Asthma In The Elderly

From Anvita Health Wiki

Contents 1 Clinical-manifestations 2 Diagnostic-procedures 3 Differential-diagnosis 4 Management 5 More General Terms 6 Additional Terms 7 References

Clinical-manifestations

• not all that wheezes is asthma (see differential diagnosis)
• similar to (see asthma)

Diagnostic-procedures

• spirometry

• in elderly patients, incomplete reversibility of obstructive airway disease is common
• COPD is common

Differential-diagnosis

• myocardial infarction
• congestive heart failure
• pulmonary embolism
• COPD
• GERD
• also see dyspnea

Management

• general

• follow recommendations for adults but with considerations of polypharmacy & comorbidities
• patient/family/ caregiver education to encourage compliance 2 pharmacologic therapy
• use stepwise approach
• also see COPD as this is a common comorbidity

More General Terms

• geriatrics
• asthma

Additional Terms

• age-associated changes in pulmonary function
• elderly (senior citizen)

References

[1]

asthma in the elderly