05/27/2002 By Elda Hauschildt
Chronological age is not an independent risk factor for hospitalisation in asthma patients. “Older patients in this study had a higher prevalence of other risk factors that predict hospitalisation, including more respiratory symptoms, worse general health and limited education,” say researchers from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland United States.
They found older adults (65 years and older) were more likely to be smokers and to report having chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, although these two factors alone did not account for the increased rate of hospitalisation.
The investigators also observed favourable findings for older adults with asthma such as fewer reported barriers to care when needed.
The patients also said that they were able to obtain care elements outlined in national guidelines in the United States. “Nevertheless, there was still substantial room for improvement in care, as it appeared insufficient to control symptoms and avert hospitalisation,” the researchers concluded.
Asthma prevalence is similar in older and younger adults, but morbidity and mortality are greater in older patients. For example, death attributable to asthma is 14 times higher for people 65 and older compared with those 18 to 35 years old. Older adults are also
hospitalised at more than twice the rate of younger adults.
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