ABSTRACT
Asthma in the elderly population is a globally increasing problem. The prevalence of asthma in the elderly ranges from 6-17% (1,2,3). It is due to an aging population, a high prevalence of allergies, smoking, exposure to pollution and other factors (2,3,4). Older patients with asthma are divided into two groups: those with longstanding asthma from childhood and those with late onset in sixth decade of life (aged 60-65). Patients with long-standing asthma have shorter symptom-free periods, more emergency interventions, more hospitalisations and worse spirometric values than patients with asthma onset after 60-65 years old (5). Elderly asthmatic patients are often under-diagnosed and consequently mistaken for chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) (1,6,7). Under-treatment of asthma is common in older people. Many studies have shown a difference between the recommended guidelines for asthma and actual therapy, and reveal poor adherence to anti-asthmatic drugs, especially inhaled corticosteroids (3,5,6). Uncontrolled disease, poor quality of life and mortality rate in asthma may be related to insuffi cient anti-asthmatic therapy in aged patients.
