Maria Pia Foschino Barbaro Warns of Underdiagnosis of COPD in Women

Pulmonologist Maria Pia Foschino Barbaro explains that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) often presents differently in women than in men. Women are more likely to experience only shortness of breath without cough or sputum, which frequently leads clinicians to misdiagnose the condition as asthma.

She notes that women are biologically and socially more vulnerable to cigarette smoke and other pollutants, resulting in earlier disease onset—sometimes before age 40—faster decline in lung function, more frequent exacerbations, and higher rates of anxiety and depression. Because of family and caregiving responsibilities, women also tend to seek medical help later than men, further delaying proper treatment. Foschino Barbaro calls for greater clinical awareness of these gender‑specific features to ensure timely diagnosis and appropriate care.