Multiple logistic regression analysis of risk factors for the development of steroid-dependent asthma in the elderly: a comparison with younger asthmatics.
BACKGROUND
The percentage of the aged among all patients with bronchial asthma is increasing.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the risk factors for the development of steroid-dependent asthma in the elderly.


METHODS
A multiple logistic regression analysis involving various clinical factors between steroid-dependent and -independent asthma was carried out for 59 asthmatics aged over 60 years, including 16 patients with steroid-dependent asthma. The calculated risk for each factor was compared with that obtained from 122 younger asthmatics aged 20-59 years.


RESULTS
Among the factors examined (sex, age, period from onset of asthma, type of asthma and family history of asthma, plus history of smoking, atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, chronic sinusitis and nasal polyps), the significant risk factors for the development of steroid dependency in the elderly asthmatics were only family history of bronchial asthma (relative risk 3.6) and smoking history (relative risk 6.9).


CONCLUSIONS
Some risk factors for steroid-dependent asthma in younger individuals were not significant in the elderly. Since the smoking history was most closely associated with the development of steroid dependency in the elderly, even though most of them had quit smoking, it is important for patients with asthma to avoid smoking.
Second Department of Internal Medicine, Hiroshima University School of Medicine, Hiroshima, Japan.
S
S
Ishioka
M
M
Terada
Y
Y
Haruta
K
K
Hiyama
S
S
Hozawa
M
M
Yamakido
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003872:Dermatitis / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009298:Nasal Polyps / Q000150:complications; D011336:Probability; D012016:Reference Values; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000150:complications; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013256:Steroids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders
D013256:Steroids