Ipratropium

Additional information

Some studies suggest that there are sex differences in expression and diagnosing of asthma, and it has been discussed if women are under-treated for respiratory diseases or not [5, 6].

Pharmacokinetics and dosing

No studies with a clinically relevant sex analysis regarding the pharmacokinetics and dosing of ipratropium have been found.

Effects

Several studies have shown positive effects of ipratropium in addition to selective β2 agonists in the treatment of acute asthma [7, 8] compared to selective β2 agonists alone, while others have failed to show such an additive effect [9, 10]. No major studies with clinically relevant sex analysis regarding the effects of ipratropium have been found. A double-blind, randomized cross over, placebo-controlled study from 2002 (27 men, 17 women) with bronchial asthma, found however that men had a greater response (increase in FEV1) to ipratropium as compared to women [11]. An earlier study (11 men, 10 women) did not find such a difference [12].

Adverse effects

A nested case control study within a cohort of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (cases: 178 men, 31 women; mean age 77 years) concluded that use of inhaled anticholinergic drugs, including ipratropium, increased the risk of acute urinary retention (AUR). The association was much stronger in men than in women. The risk of AUR was highest in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia. However, there were very few women cases [13]. Similarly, a review of concomitant use of ipratropium and tiotropium showed a higher risk of acute urinary retention in men than women (9432 men, 1806 women) [14].

Reproductive health issues

Regarding teratogenic aspects, please consult Janusmed Drugs and Birth Defects (in Swedish, Janusmed fosterpåverkan).

Other information

A Dutch registry study including new users of tiotropium, ipratropium, long-acting beta-agonists, or fixed combination of LABA and inhaled corticosteroids (in total 2737 men and 2583 women, of which 868 men and 854 women on ipratropium) showed that men with COPD persisted with inhalation treatment more than women. These drugs included ipratropium, tiotropium, long-acting beta agonists and short-acting beta agonists [15]. In a study on inhalation technique using metered dose inhalers (33 men, 26 women), 75% of the participants had an incorrect inhalation technique, especially women, regardless of age. Only 4% of women and 43% of men had an acceptable inhalation technique. The authors speculate that this may add to the worse asthma prognosis in women, shown in a meta-analysis of six trials of randomly assigned asthma treatment [1].

Several studies have shown worse prognosis for women with asthma. In an observational registry study (416 men, 498 women), women were found to have more asthmatic symptoms, worse quality of life and require more health care due to their asthma [2]. In a Danish prospective study on hospitalization due to asthma (6104 men of whom 2.5% had asthma, 7436 women of whom 2.2% had asthma), women had a 1.7 higher relative risk to be hospitalized [3]. An observational study from Singapore found hospitalization due to asthma to be more common in boys than girls aged 0-4 years (boys/girls ratio 1.69). In adults aged 35-64 years, women were more hospitalized (men/women ratio 0.81) [4].