Allergic diseases in the elderly population: a single-center experience

Area of Science:

• Geriatric Medicine
• Allergology
• Immunology

Background:

• Allergic diseases are often perceived as conditions affecting younger populations.
• However, allergic disease symptoms can emerge in elderly individuals.
• This study investigates the prevalence and characteristics of allergies in older adults.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of allergic diseases in elderly patients (≥ 65 years).
• To characterize the clinical presentation and types of allergic conditions in this demographic.
• To identify risk factors associated with specific allergic reactions in the elderly.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of patient files from an allergy unit archive over 8 years.
• Inclusion criteria: patients aged 65 years and older.
• Data collected included demographics, symptoms, diagnoses, and atopy history.

Main Results:

• 1272 elderly patients (mean age 70) were included; 55.3% were female.
• Cutaneous symptoms (69.8%) were most common, with urticaria in 56.3%.
• Other conditions included drug hypersensitivity (13.7%), asthma (5.6%), anaphylaxis (5.1%), allergic rhinitis (3.8%), hymenoptera venom allergy (1.9%), and food allergies (1.4%).
• Atopy history and comorbidity were risk factors for drug hypersensitivity.
• Male sex and atopy history were risk factors for hymenoptera venom allergy.

Conclusions:

• Allergic diseases are present in the elderly, but diagnosis can be challenging due to misperceptions and age-related factors.
• Clinical symptoms may not be obvious, and diagnostic tests can be affected by age.
• There is a critical need for specialized guidelines for diagnosing and managing allergic diseases in older adults.