An Official American Thoracic Society Workshop Report: Evaluation and Management of Asthma in the Elderly.
Asthma in the elderly (>65 yr old) is common and associated with higher morbidity and mortality than asthma in younger patients. The poor outcomes in this group are due, in part, to underdiagnosis and undertreatment. There are a variety of factors related to aging itself that affect the presentation of asthma in the elderly and influence diagnosis and management. Structural changes in the aging lung superimposed on structural changes due to asthma itself can worsen the disease and physiologic function. Changes in the aging immune system influence the cellular composition and function in asthmatic airways. These processes and differences from younger individuals with asthma are not well understood. Phenotypes of asthma in the elderly have not been clearly delineated, but it is likely that age of onset and overlap with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease impact disease characteristics. Physiologic tests and biomarkers used to diagnose and follow asthma in the elderly are generally similar to testing in younger individuals; however, whether they should be modified in aging has not been established. Confounding influences, such as comorbidities (increasing the risk of polypharmacy), impaired cognition and motor skills, psychosocial effects of aging, and age-related adverse effects of medications, impact both diagnosis and treatment of asthma in the elderly. Future efforts to understand asthma in the elderly must include geriatric-specific methodology to diagnose, characterize, monitor, and treat their disease.
This official Workshop Report of the American Thoracic Society (ATS) was approved by the ATS Board of Directors, August 2016.
Gwen S
GS
Skloot
This official Workshop Report of the American Thoracic Society (ATS) was approved by the ATS Board of Directors, August 2016.
Paula J
PJ
Busse
This official Workshop Report of the American Thoracic Society (ATS) was approved by the ATS Board of Directors, August 2016.
Sidney S
SS
Braman
This official Workshop Report of the American Thoracic Society (ATS) was approved by the ATS Board of Directors, August 2016.
Elizabeth J
EJ
Kovacs
This official Workshop Report of the American Thoracic Society (ATS) was approved by the ATS Board of Directors, August 2016.
Anne E
AE
Dixon
This official Workshop Report of the American Thoracic Society (ATS) was approved by the ATS Board of Directors, August 2016.
Carlos A
CA
Vaz Fragoso
This official Workshop Report of the American Thoracic Society (ATS) was approved by the ATS Board of Directors, August 2016.
Nicola
N
Scichilone
This official Workshop Report of the American Thoracic Society (ATS) was approved by the ATS Board of Directors, August 2016.
Y S
YS
Prakash
This official Workshop Report of the American Thoracic Society (ATS) was approved by the ATS Board of Directors, August 2016.
Christina M
CM
Pabelick
This official Workshop Report of the American Thoracic Society (ATS) was approved by the ATS Board of Directors, August 2016.
Sameer K
SK
Mathur
This official Workshop Report of the American Thoracic Society (ATS) was approved by the ATS Board of Directors, August 2016.
Nicola A
NA
Hanania
This official Workshop Report of the American Thoracic Society (ATS) was approved by the ATS Board of Directors, August 2016.
Wendy C
WC
Moore
This official Workshop Report of the American Thoracic Society (ATS) was approved by the ATS Board of Directors, August 2016.
Peter G
PG
Gibson
This official Workshop Report of the American Thoracic Society (ATS) was approved by the ATS Board of Directors, August 2016.
Susan
S
Zieman
This official Workshop Report of the American Thoracic Society (ATS) was approved by the ATS Board of Directors, August 2016.
Betina B
BB
Ragless
D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D015415:Biomarkers; D015897:Comorbidity; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D019468:Disease Management; D006801:Humans; D000068884:Immunosenescence; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology; D010641:Phenotype; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis; D012955:Societies, Medical; D014481:United States
D015415:Biomarkers
aging; immunosenescence; lung function; phenotype; reactive airways disease