Features of asthma in older adults.

A study compared clinical and functional features of elderly patients with asthma to younger patients at a university medical center. Older patients had a larger than predicted reduction in pulmonary function parameters even though physician-assessed severity, duration of diagnosed asthma, and smoking status were no different between groups. A significant increase in the comorbid diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was noted in older patients with asthma. These two points support the hypothesis that long-standing asthma may lead to irreversible airflow obstruction. Older patients reported better medication compliance and decreases in some respiratory symptoms and demonstrated lower health care utilization.