title: Sex differences in use of inhalants by elderly patients with asthma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The number of elderly patients with asthma has been increasing in Japan. Treatment for these patients should be provided based on the condition of individual patients. This study was performed to clarify the relationship between inhalation procedure and sex difference in elderly patients with asthma.
  
  
  METHODS
  The inhalation procedure was examined in 155 elderly patients with asthma (male: n=66, average age ± standard deviation: 75.5±5.65 years old; female: n=89, average age ± standard deviation: 78.7±6.87 years old) during a medical examination.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For the three items that were common to all devices, the percentages of the 155 patients who could/could not perform the actions were examined by separate Fisher's exact tests for males and females. A statistically significant difference (P=0.007) was observed for "breath holding", and more females than males were not able to hold their breath. Although no significant difference was seen in the "accurate number of times of inhalation", females tended to not be able to inhale accurately compared to males (P=0.072).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that elderly female patients with asthma have less understanding of inhaled steroid therapy, compared to elderly male patients. Therefore, it is particularly important to confirm that the correct inhalation procedure is used by elderly female patients with asthma.
authors: Department of Respiratory Medicine II, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan.
authors: Masahiro
authors: M
authors: Hirose
authors: Department of Respiratory Medicine II, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan.
authors: Rieko
authors: R
authors: Kondo
authors: Department of Respiratory Medicine II, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan.
authors: Naoaki
authors: N
authors: Ban
authors: Department of Respiratory Medicine II, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan.
authors: Kazunobu
authors: K
authors: Kuwabara
authors: Department of Respiratory Medicine II, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan.
authors: Mamoru
authors: M
authors: Shiga
authors: Department of Respiratory Medicine II, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan.
authors: Takahiko
authors: T
authors: Horiguchi
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents
keywords: asthma; elderly; inhalation; sex; therapy