Respiratory Disease in the Elderly
Article information
J Korean Med Assoc. 2005;48(2):113-124
Publication date (electronic) : 2005 February 28
doi :
https://doi.org/10.5124/jkma.2005.48.2.113
Abstract
Respiratory illness is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in the elderly. For example, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the 4th leading cause of death and the only disease among the top five that continues to increase in its prevalence. There are several changes in the respiratory system in the elderly compared with in the young, which include decreased immune defense, anatomic changes such as decreased elastic recoil and increased compliance, changes in the pulmonary function such as decreased vital capacity, increased closing volume, and decreased function of respiratory muscles, and changes in the gas exchange such as ventilation-perfusion mismatch and reduced diffusion capacity. In the elderly, coexisting morbidities such as coronary heart disease, liver, renal disease, neuropsychiatric diseases are more prevalent, and adverse drug reactions due to altered drug metabolism, elimination, and drug interaction are more common. In this article, clinical presentation, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of three most common respiratory illnesses in the elderly, pneumonia, bronchial asthma, and COPD, are discussed.
Keywords: Elderly person; Respiratory diseae; Pneumonia; Bronchial asthma; Chronicobstructive pulmonary disease(COPD)
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