SELECTED ARTICLES FROM THE RECENT LITERATURE 2005
12/16/05
Asthma in older adults
Summary
Background - It has been long recognized that asthma in older adults may have different characteristics than seen in younger asthmatics. But is the asthma in older individuals different when the onset starts at that later age?
Findings - Yasuba et al evaluated individuals older than age 60 years with asthma seen in the Takatsuki Red Cross Hospital in Japan. They compared those with: 1) late onset asthma (LOA), starting after age 60 years and 2) asthma with onset before age 60 years persisting to an older age (PA).
They found an inverse correlation between the serum IgE level and age of onset of asthma. The levels of specific IgE against common aeroallergens in Japan were also lower in the LOA group than in the PA group. The median pulmonary function findings were similar in LOA and PA groups but asthma symptomatology was less and therapeutic response to inhaled fluticasone was better in the LOA group.
Reference
Allergology International 2005;54:543-46
Editor's Comments
If these findings in Japanese patients can be extrapolated to other ethnic groups, they support the concept that LOA may be different in several respects than asthma present at the same older age which had onset at a younger (<60 years) age, particularly in the role of IgE mediation. The similar age at evaluation of the LOA and PA groups tends to rule out age- related concomitant diseases as a confounding factor in interpreting the differences observed.
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