RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Clinical profile and treatment of elderly patients hospitalized for acute exacerbation of asthma . A comparative study
JF European Respiratory Journal
JO Eur Respir J
FD European Respiratory Society
SP P4052
VO 44
IS Suppl 58
A1 Jihen Ben Amar
A1 Bouthaina Ben Safta
A1 Dhahri Besma
A1 Baccar Mohamed Ali
A1 Azzabi Saloua
A1 Aouina Hichem
A1 Bouacha Hend
YR 2014
UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/44/Suppl_58/P4052.abstract
AB Introduction:The heterogeneity of clinical and functional presentation of geriatric asthma, including the partial loss of reversibility and of the allergic component, contributes to her misconception.Aim:The present study was designed to describe the clinical profile of acute exacerbation of asthma in elderly patients and the treatment prescribed in a pulmonary service, compared with the younger age group and to examine if the advanced age increases the frequency,and severity of asthma.Methods:A total of 97 patients were recruited and divided in two groups; 41≥ 60 years (G1) and 56 <60 years (G2). We compared the differences between the 2 groups and the rest regarding comorbidity, severity of asthma, previous admissions, length of stay and treatment prescribed.Results:The mean age in G1 was 67, 5 years, 60% of patients were female versus mean age in G2 40,31 years, 56% of patients were female.The elderly patients had more comorbidity (P =0.02) with greater presence of cardiac antecedent. G2 had more history of severe acute asthma.Symptoms were dominated by attacks of breathlessness, wheezing and spasmodic dry cough in both groups, and length of stay were most important in G1 (P<0,005).The mean exacerbation of asthma frequency was 2 in G1 versus 3 in G2. Mean duration of each exacerbation was 11 days in G1 versus 5,3 days G2. Pneumonia was the most frequent etiology of exacerbation in G1 while in G2 there was therapeutic malobservance.Conclusion:The frequent coexistence of comorbid conditions in older patients compared to younger asthmatics, together with age-associated changes of the human lung, may render the management of asthma a complicated task.