[The treatment strategy of elderly asthma]

The main drugs for long-term management of elderly patients with asthma are inhaled steroids as is the case for younger patients (from adolescence to middle age). Treatment should generally be performed according to guidelines and inhaled steroids should be initiated as early as possible. However, elderly patients with asthma have a low rate of using inhaled steroids and display various characteristics, so health professionals should instruct them with regard to compliance and adjust the treatment regimen in accordance with each patient's condition in order to improve the outcome. This approach is likely to improve asthma symptoms, respiratory function, and QOL in elderly patients, as well as resulting in a decrease of deaths from asthma.