title: Epidemiology and management of common pulmonary diseases in older persons.
abstract: Pulmonary disease prevalence increases with age and contributes to morbidity and mortality in older patients. Dyspnea in older patients is often ascribed to multiple etiologies such as medical comorbidities and deconditioning. Common pulmonary disorders are frequently overlooked as contributors to dyspnea in older patients. In addition to negative impacts on morbidity and mortality, quality of life is reduced in older patients with uncontrolled, undertreated pulmonary symptoms. The purpose of this review is to discuss the epidemiology of common pulmonary diseases, namely pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, lung cancer, and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in older patients. We will review common clinical presentations for these diseases and highlight differences between younger and older patients. We will also briefly discuss risk factors, treatment, and mortality associated with these diseases. Finally, we will address the relationship between comorbidities, pulmonary symptoms, and quality of life in older patients with pulmonary diseases.
authors.affiliation: Pulmonary and Critical Care Section, Department of Internal Medicine, VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, USA. kathleen.akgun@yale.edu
authors.forename: Kathleen M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Akgün
authors.forename: Kristina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Crothers
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pisani
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D000077192:Adenocarcinoma of Lung; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D054990:Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D015994:Incidence; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents