Elderly asthma

Article information

J Korean Med Assoc. 2018;61(5):323-326

Publication date (electronic) : 2018 May 17

doi : https://doi.org/10.5124/jkma.2018.61.5.323

Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

Corresponding author: Yeon-Mok Oh E-mail: ymoh55@amc.seoul.kr

Received 2018 January 12; Accepted 2017 January 26.

Abstract

Asthma in the elderly tends to be underdiagnosed and undertreated despite its high morbidity and mortality. The diagnosis and management of asthma in the elderly is essentially the same as in adult patients. For diagnosis, spirometry is crucial, in addition to an assessment of typical symptoms; for management, the use of an inhaled corticosteroid is essential to control asthma. In elderly asthmatics, medications controlling asthma appear to be less efficacious than in younger asthmatics, and show more adverse effects. Other diseases with symptoms similar to asthma in the elderly are chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, tuberculous destroyed lung, bronchiectasis, lung cancer, and heart disease, and care should therefore be taken to differentiate these conditions from asthma. Vaccinations for influenza and pneumococcus are recommended for elderly individuals with asthma.

Keywords: Asthma; Aged

Figure 1.

Prevalence of asthma according to age groups in the year 2013. The Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, South Korea. Adapted from Park SY et al. OLD 2016;4:23-32 [1].

Figure 2.

Number of asthma death according to age groups in the year 2013. Adapted from Korean Statistical Information Service. Cause of death (236 items): number of death according to sex and age [Internet]. Daejeon: Statistics Korea [2].

Table 1.

Differential points between COPD and asthma

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