Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 9, 2026
07:10
Home-Based Prescribed Pulmonary Exercise in Patients with Stable Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Published on: August 24, 2019
Do we need different treatments for very elderly COPD patients?
S Valente1, G Pasciuto, R Bernabei
1U.O.C. Pneumologia e Fisiopatologia Respiratoria, Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Scienze Specialistiche, Università Cattolica S. Cuore, Rome, Italy. svalente@rm.unicatt.it
Respiration; International Review of Thoracic Diseases
|August 25, 2010
Summary
Population ageing presents unique challenges in geriatric pharmacology, especially for treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in older adults. This review explores age-related physiological changes impacting drug effectiveness for COPD management.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric Medicine
- Pharmacology
- Respiratory Medicine
Background:
- Population ageing presents complex clinical challenges, particularly in geriatric pharmacology.
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) disproportionately affects older adults, often leading to underdiagnosis and undertreatment.
- Elderly patients may be frail with impaired physiological systems, necessitating careful treatment considerations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review age-related physiological changes impacting pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics.
- To examine the influence of age on inhaled therapies for COPD treatment.
- To optimize drug therapy for elderly COPD patients by considering age-specific factors.
Main Methods:
- Literature review focusing on geriatric pharmacology and COPD treatment.
- Analysis of age-related changes in drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion.
- Examination of age-related alterations in drug targets and responses.
Main Results:
- Age-related physiological changes significantly affect how inhaled medications are processed and their efficacy in older adults.
- Limited research specifically addresses age as a factor in COPD inhaled therapy pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics.
- Comorbidity, polypharmacy, and age-related changes require careful assessment for safe and effective COPD pharmacotherapy.
Conclusions:
- Optimizing COPD pharmacotherapy in the elderly requires a thorough understanding of age-related pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic shifts.
- Further research is needed to specifically investigate age-related effects on inhaled COPD treatments.
- Tailoring treatment strategies based on individual patient assessments is crucial for improving outcomes in elderly COPD patients.
Related Concept Videos
01:26COPD: Management Using Bronchodilators and Corticosteroids
Chronic obstructive pulmonary isease (COPD) involves a group of progressive lung disorders characterized by persistent airflow limitation and chronic respiratory symptoms. Asthma-COPD Overlap Syndrome (ACOS), encompassing features of both asthma and Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), is a group of progressive lung disorders that includes chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and refractory (non-reversible) asthma. ACOS leads to complex clinical presentations that combine the inflammatory...
01:29Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-V: Management
Managing Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) involves a multifaceted approach to reduce symptoms, prevent exacerbations, improve overall health status, and slow disease progression. Key strategies include lifestyle modifications, pharmacotherapy, supportive therapies, and, in some cases, surgery. Here is an overview of the primary COPD management strategies:
Smoking Cessation
Smoking Cessation
01:20Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-I: Introduction
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a long-lasting respiratory condition requiring continuous attention and care. It is a progressive lung disease that leads to breathing challenges due to airflow obstruction. It manifests as persistent respiratory symptoms and restricted airflow resulting from abnormalities in the airways and alveoli, usually due to long-term exposure to harmful particles or gases. COPD mainly consists of two primary conditions: emphysema and chronic bronchitis.
01:15Drug Dosing: Geriatric Patients
Elderly individuals encompass a diverse population with varying degrees of age-related physiological changes. Defining the elderly presents challenges, as the geriatric population is often arbitrarily categorized as individuals older than 65. However, many individuals in this group lead active and healthy lives, with an increasing number surpassing 85 years and falling into the older elderly category. Physiological changes associated with aging impact performance capacity and homeostatic...
01:30Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-V: Nursing Management
Nursing management of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is crucial for providing thorough care and support to patients. Nurses play an integral role in this process through detailed assessment, careful planning, targeted interventions, and ongoing evaluation. Here's an overview of the critical steps in nursing management for COPD.
Assessment
Assessment
01:24Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
COPD is defined as a heterogeneous lung condition marked by persistent respiratory symptoms such as dyspnea, cough, and sputum production, caused by abnormalities in the airways that cause airflow obstruction.
Smoking is a primary risk factor for COPD, with over 80% of patients having a history of it. Patients typically experience progressive dyspnea or labored breathing, frequent coughing, and recurrent pulmonary infections. Many eventually succumb to respiratory failure, characterized by...
Smoking is a primary risk factor for COPD, with over 80% of patients having a history of it. Patients typically experience progressive dyspnea or labored breathing, frequent coughing, and recurrent pulmonary infections. Many eventually succumb to respiratory failure, characterized by...