title: Clinical efficacy of omalizumab in an elderly veteran population with severe asthma.
abstract: Severe asthma in elderly patients is underdiagnosed, difficult to treat, and often accompanied by atopy. This study was designed to compare clinical outcomes of omalizumab therapy in an elderly veteran population with severe allergic asthma. A retrospective, observational data analysis was performed over 2 years. Cohort outcome measures 1 year before omalizumab therapy were compared with 1 year of active treatment. Statistical analysis included two sample t-tests. The total number of patients enrolled was 17 with median age of 60 years. Omalizumab therapy was associated with a significant reduction in acute asthma exacerbations requiring prednisone treatment (p < 0.01), a significant improvement in forced expiratory volume in 1 second of 0.28 L (p < 0.01), and significantly higher Asthma Control Test (ACT) scores at 3 (p = 0.043), 6 (p = 0.039), and 12 months of therapy (p < 0.01). Two of five patients on daily prednisone for >6 months were able to discontinue systemic steroid use within 3 months of omalizumab treatment. Our study suggests elderly patients with severe atopic asthma show a significant positive clinical response to omalizumab.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy-Immunology, Veterans Administration Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, University of California-Los Angeles, USA. verma.allergy@gmail.com
authors.forename: Prashant
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Verma
authors.forename: Inderpal
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Randhawa
authors.forename: William B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Klaustermeyer
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000069444:Omalizumab; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014728:Veterans
chemical_list: D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D000069444:Omalizumab