Perception of wheezing in the elderly asthmatics

Asthma in the elderly and late-onset adult asthma

Elderly asthmatics are at a higher risk for morbidity and mortality from their asthma than younger patients. There are important age-related physiologic and immunologic changes that complicate the presentation, diagnosis, and management of asthma in the aged population. Evidence suggests that elderly asthmatics are more likely to be underdiagnosed and undertreated. Additionally, elderly patients with asthma have highest rates of morbidity and mortality from their disease than younger patients. The underlying airway inflammation of asthma in this age group likely differs from younger patients and is felt to be non-type 2 mediated. While elderly patients are underrepresented in clinical trials, subgroup analysis of large clinical trials suggests they may be less likely to respond to traditional asthma therapies (ie, corticosteroids). As the armamentarium of pharmacologic asthma therapies expands, it will be critical to include elderly asthmatics in large clinical trials so that therapy may be better tailored to this at-risk and growing population.

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.

Comparative Clinical, Physiological, and Inflammatory Characteristics of Elderly Subjects With or Without Asthma and Young Subjects With Asthma

BACKGROUND

Asthma seems to present in the elderly as a specific phenotype that remains to be further described. In this prospective observational study, we aimed to assess the multidimensional aspects of asthma in the elderly.

METHODS

In young (18 to 35 years old) subjects with mild to moderate asthma and elderly subjects (aged ≥60 years) either with or without mild to moderate asthma, we compared asthma control, health care and medication use, lung function, markers of airway and systemic inflammation, and adherence to therapy.

RESULTS

Fifty subjects were recruited in each group. Elderly people with asthma showed more marked airway obstruction compared with young people with asthma and elderly people without asthma. They also had poorer asthma control, mainly associated with a lower FEV₁, compared with young people with asthma, although airway responsiveness, health care use, prescribed doses of inhaled corticosteroids, and adherence to treatment were similar in both groups. Elderly subjects had an increase in some markers of systemic inflammation and bronchial epithelial dysfunction compared with young people with asthma. Blood eosinophils were higher in both asthma groups, particularly in elderly people with asthma. Sputum neutrophils were increased in both groups of elderly subjects and sputum eosinophils were increased in elderly people with asthma compared with the other two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Asthma in the elderly presents as a specific phenotype associated with increased airway obstruction and mixed airway inflammation in addition to signs of systemic inflammation.

[Asthma among senior adults]

Elderly patients with asthma are a specific group with particular needs. These must be addressed in order to provide appropriate asthma care. Asthma causes higher morbidity and mortality rates among the elderly patients. Older patients often fail or have problems with compliance and self-management due to age-specific factors. Older patients with asthma are often misdiagnosed, due to an impaired patient perception of symptom severity, different opinions of what kind of asthma-control is possible, or not sufficient communication skills. Often the quality of life is impaired by asthma. Improvement in self management skills in a special way may enhance the health status of elderly patients with asthma.

Asthmatic patients' poor awareness of inadequate disease control: a pharmacy-based survey

BACKGROUND

Many asthmatic patients fail to perceive their level of disease control.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate whether patients' ability to identify asthma control varied with personal characteristics or factors related to disease management.

METHODS

Asthmatic patients were consecutively recruited at 348 pharmacies. They completed a questionnaire (regarding personal characteristics and asthma management) linked to pharmacies records of dispensed medications. The Asthma Control Test questionnaire includes 4 dimensions of asthma control (activity limitations, dyspnea, nocturnal awakenings, and rescue medication use) and assesses patients' perception of control ("How would you rate your asthma control during the past 14 days?"). Analyses were restricted to patients with inadequate control. Patients' perception of control was compared across the other dimensions of the questionnaire. The correlates of patients' failure to perceive inadequate asthma control were investigated.

RESULTS

Seven hundred eighteen (68.5%) of the 1,048 patients with inadequate asthma control and documented perception of control considered themselves to be "completely" or "well" controlled. Patients' perception of control did not vary with each dimension of inadequate control. High rates of failure to perceive poor control were observed in patients with at least weekly dyspneas (60%) or nocturnal symptoms (60%). Failure to perceive inadequate control was more likely in patients aged 41 to 50 years (odds ratio, 1.51; 95% confidence interval, 1.05-2.15). No significant effect of factors related to asthma management was observed.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with most uncontrolled asthma have difficulty in properly perceiving their level of disease control regardless of their personal characteristics or disease management. The reasons for this poor perception should be investigated. Education programs should be created that focus on knowledge of asthma miscontrol criteria.