title: Features of asthma in older adults.
abstract: A study compared clinical and functional features of elderly patients with asthma to younger patients at a university medical center. Older patients had a larger than predicted reduction in pulmonary function parameters even though physician-assessed severity, duration of diagnosed asthma, and smoking status were no different between groups. A significant increase in the comorbid diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was noted in older patients with asthma. These two points support the hypothesis that long-standing asthma may lead to irreversible airflow obstruction. Older patients reported better medication compliance and decreases in some respiratory symptoms and demonstrated lower health care utilization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Alabama, Birmingham.
authors.forename: W C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Bailey
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Richards
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Brooks
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Soong
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Brannen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015897:Comorbidity; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008173:Lung Diseases, Obstructive / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D015656:Respiratory Mechanics