Effect of Gender on Nasal Mucociliary Clearance

Abstract

Background: The sexual dimorphism favours gender specific biological characteristics influenced by sex hormones. These sex hormones determined differences influence the health of an individual by influencing many physiological parameters. As the pulmonary functions are different between male and female and the susceptibility to different respiratory diseases varies between genders, this study has been designed to assess the relation between gender and the nasal mucociliary clearance, an inherent protective mechanism of the respiratory passages. Aim and objectives: To assess the relation between gender and nasal mucociliary clearance (NMC). Materials and methods: This cross sectional study was carried out on 60 randomly selected volunteers (30 male volunteers and 30 female volunteers) and NMC time was measured in them. The saccharin transit method was used to assess NMC. Saccharin transit time (STT) is the time taken by the participant to appreciate the taste of saccharin after placement of tablet of saccharin (1mm x 1mm) in the nostril. Results: The mean NMC in males was 7.71 2.35min and in the females was 7.65 2.22 min. There was no statistical significance as the p value is 0.9291. Conclusion: NMC time did not vary between male and female population. Therefore it could be inferred that gender has no apparent influence on nasal mucociliary clearance.