Disparities in sex
In many studies, the sex of the patients is included when describing the
demographics. However, not many studies are designed and conducted
specifically on the association between sex and outcomes in pediatric
respiratory diseases. Frigyesi et al. showed a higher female mortality
ratio in patients admitted with respiratory failure at the PICU but no
difference was found in received care between the groups, and thus no
explanation was found on the observed differences in outcomes related to
the patient’s sex40. However, no distinction was made
between the different etiologies of the respiratory
insufficiency40. Further research is needed to
identify if there truly is a sex difference related to outcomes in this
patient group, and the underlying causes if so.