Elderly asthma
10.5124/jkma.2018.61.5.323
- Author:
Yeon Mok OH
1
Author Information
1. Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. ymoh55@amc.seoul.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Asthma;
Aged
- MeSH:
Adult;
Aged;
Asthma;
Bronchiectasis;
Diagnosis;
Heart Diseases;
Humans;
Influenza, Human;
Lung;
Lung Neoplasms;
Mortality;
Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive;
Spirometry;
Streptococcus pneumoniae;
Vaccination
- From:Journal of the Korean Medical Association
2018;61(5):323-326
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
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.
