Asthma in the elderly--a more severe disease
Lee, K.H.; Chin, N.K.; Lim, T.K.
Singapore Medical Journal 41(12): 579-581
2000
ISSN/ISBN: 0037-5675 PMID: 11296782 Document Number: 520115
To determine the severity of asthma in the elderly compared to the younger asthmatics. Cross-sectional study. University outpatient asthma clinic. Asthmatics seen over a 6 month period in 1997. There were 154 patients and 16% were elderly (> 65 years) asthmatics. The elderly asthmatics were on significantly more anti-asthmatic medications (2.3 +/- 1.1 vs. 1.6 +/- 0.9, p < 0.001), and their clinical severity was significantly worse than their younger counterparts (Step 2.2 +/- 1.2 vs. 1.7 +/- 1.0, p < 0.001). Near-fatal asthma episodes were also more common in the elderly asthmatics (39% vs 13%, chi 2 test p < 0.01). Elderly asthmatics appear to have more severe asthma as evidenced by the increase in near-fatal episodes, and their increased clinical severity.