title: [Asthma in the elderly].
abstract: A population aged 65 and over has been increasing in the developed countries. The prevalence of asthma in elderly patients is estimated between 6.5 and 17%. Asthma is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in the elderly. Moreover, death due to asthma occurs mostly in elderly patients. Only a few studies have reported the characteristics of asthma in the elderly patients. Two distinct clinical presentations of asthma have been described in the elderly. There are differences both in the pathophysiology and the clinical manifestation of asthma between elderly patients with a long-standing disease and those with late-onset disease. Additionally, aging of the respiratory system influences the asthma presentation. Asthma has been presented for many years may lead to persistent obstructive ventilatory defect and can mimic chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Irreversible obstruction is commonly observed in elderly patients with asthma. The differential diagnosis of asthma is difficult in older adults and asthma is underrecognized and undertreated in the older population. Undertreatment is common in elderly asthmatics which largely is related to diagnostic issues.
authors.affiliation: Katedra i Klinika Chorób Wewnetrznych i Alergologii, Akademia Medyczna im Piastów Slaskich, Wrocław. karolina_lindner@tlen.pl
authors.forename: Karolina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lindner
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Panaszek
authors.forename: Zbigniew
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Machaj
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D012120:Respiration Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D012135:Respiratory Sounds / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000187:drug effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents