Asthma in the elderly--a more severe disease.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the severity of asthma in the elderly compared to the younger asthmatics.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
University outpatient asthma clinic.


METHODS
Asthmatics seen over a 6 month period in 1997.


RESULTS
There were 154 patients and 16% were elderly (> 65 years) asthmatics. The elderly asthmatics were on significantly more anti-asthmatic medications (2.3 +/- 1.1 vs. 1.6 +/- 0.9, p < 0.001), and their clinical severity was significantly worse than their younger counterparts (Step 2.2 +/- 1.2 vs. 1.7 +/- 1.0, p < 0.001). Near-fatal asthma episodes were also more common in the elderly asthmatics (39% vs 13%, chi 2 test p < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Elderly asthmatics appear to have more severe asthma as evidenced by the increase in near-fatal episodes, and their increased clinical severity.
Lee
K H
KH
Respiratory Division, Department of Medicine, National University Hospital, Lower Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119074, Republic of Singapore. mdclimtk@mus.sg
Chin
N K
NK
Lim
T K
TK
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001249:Asthma / Q000145:classification* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012846:Singapore / Q000453:epidemiology; D015996:Survival Rate