Asthma in Individuals Over 60 Years: A Comparative Analysis Across Age Subgroups

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Pulmonology
• Clinical Medicine

Background:

• Asthma management in individuals over 60 is challenging due to atypical symptoms, overlapping comorbidities, and diagnostic difficulties.
• Older adults with asthma often present with atypical symptoms, complicating diagnosis and treatment.
• Comorbidities frequently overlap with asthma symptoms, leading to diagnostic uncertainty and undertreatment in the elderly population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate asthma control, phenotypes, comorbidities, and quality of life in patients aged 60 and older.
• To assess treatment patterns for asthma in older adults, including specific age subgroups.
• To investigate the impact of asthma on quality of life and general health in the geriatric population.

Main Methods:

• A multicenter, cross-sectional study involving 345 asthma patients over 60 and 410 matched controls.
• Utilized spirometry, Forced Oscillation Technique (FOT), and bronchodilator reversibility testing.
• Assessed patient-reported outcomes using Asthma Control Test (ACT), Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ), and SF-36 survey.

Main Results:

• 25% of asthma patients had severe asthma; 48% presented with the T2 phenotype.
• Asthma patients showed higher rates of depression, cognitive decline, and multimorbidity compared to controls (p<0.05).
• Asthma patients reported lower quality of life (AQLQ scores) and older adults over 80 had poorer asthma control and reduced quality of life (SF-36 scores).

Conclusions:

• Asthma in older age is frequently linked to comorbidities, significantly impacting quality of life and overall health.
• Patients aged 60 and over are often undertreated for asthma, resulting in suboptimal disease control.
• The oldest patients (over 80) experience particularly poorer asthma control and diminished quality of life, underscoring a critical need for tailored interventions.