[Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), advanced age, and comorbidities]

Area of Science:

• Geriatric Medicine
• Pulmonology
• Internal Medicine

Background:

• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is prevalent in older adults.
• COPD in the elderly often co-exists with multimorbidity and geriatric syndromes.
• Geriatric syndromes are critical for understanding COPD diagnosis and management in older populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To emphasize the importance of specific geriatric syndromes in the context of COPD.
• To guide clinicians in managing elderly COPD patients with co-existing conditions.

Main Methods:

• Review of literature on COPD and geriatric syndromes.
• Highlighting the impact of frailty, dementia, dysphagia, and depression on COPD.
• Focus on the necessity of geriatric assessments for COPD patients.

Main Results:

• Frailty, dementia, dysphagia, and depression are central geriatric syndromes affecting COPD.
• These syndromes influence symptom burden, exacerbations, functional status, mortality, and treatment adherence.
• Cognitive impairments and dysphagia complicate diagnosis and medication management.
• Depression is underrecognized but linked to reduced quality of life and hospitalizations.

Conclusions:

• Geriatric assessment, including screening for frailty, cognitive impairment, dysphagia, and depression, is essential for older COPD patients.
• An interdisciplinary, patient-centered approach improves treatment outcomes, quality of life, and prognosis.
• Addressing geriatric syndromes is key to optimizing care for elderly individuals with COPD.