title: Leukotriene Receptor Antagonists for the Treatment of Asthma in Elderly Patients.
abstract: Elderly asthma (EA) is regarded as a distinct phenotype of asthma and is associated with age-related changes in airway structure and alterations in lung function and immune responses. EA is difficult to diagnose because of aging and co-morbidities, and overlaps with fixed airway obstructive disease. Novel modalities to differentiate between EA and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are necessary. A multifaceted approach, including clinical history, smoking habits, atopy, and measurement of lung function, is mandatory to differentiate asthma from COPD. There are a variety of co-morbidities with EA, of which COPD, upper airway diseases, depression, obesity, and hypertension are the most common, and these co-morbidities can affect the control status of EA. However, leukotriene receptor antagonists (LTRAs) can facilitate the management of EA, and thus addition of an LTRA to inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) monotherapy or ICS plus long-acting β2-agonist therapy improves symptoms in EA patients. LTRA treatment is safe and beneficial in patients who are unable to use inhalation devices properly or who have co-morbid diseases. Therefore, clinical studies targeting a specific population of EA patients are warranted to help achieve a better therapeutic strategy in EA patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Worldcup-ro 164, Youngtong-gu, Suwon-si, 443-380, South Korea.
authors.forename: Hoang Kim Tu
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Trinh
authors.affiliation: Department of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Worldcup-ro 164, Youngtong-gu, Suwon-si, 443-380, South Korea.
authors.forename: Ga-Young
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Ban
authors.affiliation: Department of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Worldcup-ro 164, Youngtong-gu, Suwon-si, 443-380, South Korea.
authors.forename: Ji-Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Worldcup-ro 164, Youngtong-gu, Suwon-si, 443-380, South Korea. hspark@ajou.ac.kr.|Department of Biomedical Sciences, The Graduate School, Ajou University, Suwon, South Korea. hspark@ajou.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Hae-Sim
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D015897:Comorbidity; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D020024:Leukotriene Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D020024:Leukotriene Antagonists