title: Characteristics of atopic bronchial asthma in seniors over 80 years of age.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Asthma in the elderly is an important public health problem. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and characteristics of asthma in seniors.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study involved 105 people of at least 80 years of age (mean age of 84.1 ± 3.9 years) selected from a group of 1860 individuals. Spirometry, the methacholine test, allergy diagnosis, a measurement of exhaled nitric oxide, and administration of the asthma quality of life questionnaire (AQLQ) were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average morbidity of asthma in the study population of elderly people (at least 80 years of age) was 5.6% (105 people) of the confidence interval (95% CI: 5.1-6.0). In the study group, 34% of the elderly asthmatics had uncontrolled asthma, 47% had partly controlled asthma, and only 24% had fully controlled asthma. Allergy to house dust mites was predominant. The average total score on the AQLQ was 4.12 ± 0.72 (arithmetic mean ± standard deviation) for the seniors, which was significantly lower than the score for the young.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The pathogenesis, natural history, and value of the basic diagnostic methods of asthma in the elderly are similar to those observed in younger age groups.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Department of Internal Medicine, Dermatology and Allergology, Medical University of Silesia, M. Sklodowskiej-Curie 10, 41-800 Zabrze, Poland.
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bożek
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Filipowski
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.forename: Jerzy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jarzab
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology*; D045853:Exhalation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D009569:Nitric Oxide