Asthma in Older Adults

Asthma in Older Adults

Description Symptoms Causes Diagnostics Treatment

Description

Asthma is a chronic illness that causes the airways in the lungs to become constricted because of inflammation and muscular tightening around the small airways. 

It’s prevalent in older age as in younger age with a prevalence of 7.8% worldwide. 

In general, asthma is more prevalent in females compared to males. 

Symptoms

Asthma patients suffer from : 

Coughing 
Wheezes 
Shortness of breath 
Chest tightness 
These symptoms are intermittent and increase at night or with exercise. 

In the older age group, asthma has more symptom severity and lower lung function. 

Visit your Chest and Respiratory doctor if you have symptoms of asthma to be diagnosed properly

Causes

The exact cause of asthma is unknown, but there are different triggers such as : 

Respiratory infections 
Allergies – as an allergy to pollen, dust mites, animal fur, or feathers 
Smoke, fumes, and pollution 
Medicines – particularly anti-inflammatory painkillers like ibuprofen and aspirin 
Emotions, including stress, or laughter 
Weather – such as sudden changes in temperature, cold air, wind, thunderstorms, heat, and humidity 
Mold or damp 
Exercise

Diagnostics

Diagnosis of late-onset asthma in the elderly is a challenge as they may consider their symptoms as a consequence of age. 

The same diagnostic procedures employed in younger populations are used for the diagnosis of the elderly however, it is more challenging to interpret the clinical data. 

Spirometry : The patient blows air into a machine that measures the amount the patient can inhale and how rapidly he can exhale it. 

FeNO test : The patient breathes into a machine that measures nitric oxide, which is a marker for lung inflammation. 

Peak-flow test : It may be done multiple times over a few weeks to evaluate if the ability to exhale quickly changes. The patient blows into a handheld gadget that measures this. 

Skin prick test : An allergen is applied to the skin in a little amount to check if it causes a reaction. 

Blood tests : A blood sample is tested to know allergens that trigger asthma symptoms. 

Other tests may be used if needed 

Treatment

Most of the recommendations for treating the elderly asthmatics don’t differ from the younger population however, attention should be given to co-morbidities and the different medications used by them which may interfere with the respiratory drugs or the disease itself. 

Your doctor may prescribe you : 

Inhalers: The type of inhaler may differ according to the case. 

Reliever inhaler : Used for acute symptoms as salbutamol. 
Controller inhale r: It contains corticosteroids and is considered the mainstay for asthma control (ex : Fluticasone propionate). Or it can be a combination of inhaled corticosteroids with another type of medication (ex : Salmeterol & fluticasone, formoterol & mometasone, and Budesonide & formoterol). 
Combination : Contains both reliever and corticosteroids (ex : Salbutamol & beclomethasone). 
Tablets : May be used as add-on therapy if the patient is not well controlled (ex : Montelukast,  Zafirlukast, Theophylline). 

Biologic therapy : Reserved for uncontrolled patients with documented allergies (ex : Omalizumab). 

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