6533b830fe1ef96bd1296791
RESEARCH PRODUCT
Diagnosis and management of asthma in the elderly.
Claudio SorinoClaudio PedoneSalvatore BattagliaVincenzo BelliaScichilone Nicolasubject
Agingmedicine.medical_specialtyComorbiditySettore MED/10 - Malattie Dell'Apparato RespiratorioAffect (psychology)Human lungMedication AdherenceOlder patientsPartial lossInternal MedicinemedicineHumansAnti-Asthmatic AgentsIntensive care medicineAsthmaAgedCOPDbusiness.industryAsthma treatmentAge Factorsmedicine.diseaseComorbidityLung functionAsthmarespiratory tract diseasesClinical Practicemedicine.anatomical_structurePhysical therapybusinessAirway inflammationdescription
Bronchial asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases worldwide, and by definition not expected to recover with aging. However, the concept that asthma can affect older individuals has been largely denied in the past. In clinical practice, asthma that occurs in the most advanced ages is often diagnosed as COPD, thus leading to undertreatment or improper treatment. The heterogeneity of clinical and functional presentation of geriatric asthma, including the partial loss of reversibility and of the allergic component, contributes to this misconception. A large body of evidence has accumulated demonstrating that the prevalence of asthma in the most advanced ages is similar to that in younger ages. The frequent coexistence of comorbid conditions in older patients compared to younger asthmatics, together with age-associated changes of the human lung, may render the management of asthma a complicated task. The article addresses the main issues related to the diagnosis and treatment of asthma in the geriatric age.
| year | journal | country | edition | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013-10-05 | European journal of internal medicine |