COPD in the elderly
Journal Title: Postępy Nauk Medycznych - Year 2011, Vol 24, Issue 5
Abstract
COPD is a major public health problem that affects a significant proportion of the elderly population. The prevalence of COPD in individuals 65 years of age and older was recently estimated to be 50% compared with 20% in those 40 years. Symptoms of COPD in the elderly are nonspecyfic and recognition and diagnosis are often delayed. Dyspnea and activity limitation are common symptoms, but these may be attributed to other potential abnormalities including cardiac or other lung diseases. Many elderly patients limit their activity to avoid becoming dyspneic, and assume that their dyspnea is resulting from their aging process. Those patients seek medical attention late in their disease process. Cough is another very common symptom among the elderly patients with COPD, but cough can also be caused by other diseases as well as by medications such as ACE inhibitors. The diagnosis of COPD in the elderly, like as in other patients, should be beased on history and demonstration of airway obstruction on spirometric testing. In elderly, development of these tests is very difficult, because there are contraindications and difficulties in cooperation during examination, resulting from physical impairments and/or poor cognitive abilities. In the elderly population COPD is frequently present with several comorbidites. Cardiovascular, musculosceletal (cachexia, osteoporosis) and psychological (anxiety, depression) comorbidities are very common and can complicate the course of the disease. Acute exacerbations of COPD present a risk for acute respiratory failure in the elderly patients with advanced COPD. The elderly patients are at increased risk for adverse effects associated with COPD medications. Because the elderly tend to use multiple drugs for numerous diseases, such polypharmacy may complicate disease management and increase the likelihood of drug interactions.
Authors and Affiliations
Ada Sawicka, Ewa Marcinowska-Suchowierska
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP54188
- DOI -
- Views 115
- Downloads 0
Platelet concentrates, as new and promising agent in the orthopedic surgery – an introduction
Tissue healing is a complex process, involving numerous interactions between cells, that are mediated by signal molecules, including growth factors. The commonly used source of growth factors in orthopedics and trauma su...
Assessment of the efficiency of cervical cytology in detection of cervical premalignant conditions and cervical carcinoma
Introduction. Uterine cervical cancer is one of the most common malignancies diagnosed in women. The most common form of the cervical cancer is the squamous cell carcinoma. Its development is often preceded by premaligna...
Spoligotype-defined population structure of drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates in Eastern Poland
Introduction. The most detrimental impact on the epidemiology of tuberculosis (TB) in Poland may have the spread of tubercle bacilli from outside the country. This is because Poland is geographically situated in close pr...
Ocena skuteczności wewnątrznaczyniowej embolizacji żył jajnikowych w leczeniu zespołu przekrwienia biernego miednicy
Wstęp. Przewlekły ból miednicy (CPP) jest przyczyną 20% ginekologicznych wizyt ambulatoryjnych. Częstym powodem CPP jest zespół przekrwienia biernego narządów miednicy mniejszej (PCS). Jest on powodowany przez żylaki prz...
Efficacy and safety of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy as a surgical treatment for obesity – initial results
Background. Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) has recently become one of standard options of bariatric surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of LSG and impact of weight loss on improv...