Smoking remains a principal cause of COPD and women with COPD tend to have more severe symptoms and at a younger age than males. COPD or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is the umbrella term for chronic lung conditions, including emphysema and bronchitis. A new study in BMJ Open Respiratory Research surveyed more than twelve thousand women and nearly that many men. Among smokers, gender differences persisted regardless of smoking history, but women non-smokers still had nearly fifty percent greater chance of COPD than men. Researchers say their findings refine prior estimates of COPD among women without a history of smoking and the need for greater efforts to prevent, diagnose and treat it.