Effects of older age and age of asthma onset on clinical and inflammatory variables in severe refractory asthma

Chaudhuri, R. et al. (2016) Effects of older age and age of asthma onset on clinical and inflammatory variables in severe refractory asthma. Respiratory Medicine, 118, pp. 46-52. (doi: 10.1016/j.rmed.2016.07.005) (PMID:27578470)

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Asthma in the elderly as well as asthma of adult-onset has been associated with increased morbidity, but little is known specifically about the effects of age on clinical and inflammatory outcomes in severe refractory asthma. The aims of the study were to examine the effects of age [<65 versus ≥65 years] and age of onset of asthma [childhood-onset, <18 versus adult-onset, ≥18 years] on clinical and inflammatory variables in patients with severe asthma. METHODS: In 1042 subjects with refractory asthma recruited to the British Thoracic Society Severe Asthma Registry, we compared patient demographics, disease characteristics and biomarkers of inflammation in patients aged <65 years (n = 896) versus ≥65 years (n = 146) and onset at age <18 years (n = 430) versus ≥18 years (n = 526). RESULTS: Severe asthma patients aged ≥65 years had improved symptom control, better asthma quality of life and in the last year, less emergency visits and rescue oral steroid courses [3 (1-6) versus 5 (2-7), p < 0.001] than severe asthmatics aged <65 years. Blood eosinophils were lower in the elderly group. Patients with severe adult-onset asthma had similar symptom control, lung function and health-care utilization compared to severe childhood-onset asthma. Adult-onset asthmatics had higher blood eosinophils and were less atopic. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with severe refractory asthma aged ≥65 years exhibit better clinical and health care outcomes and have lower blood eosinophils compared to those aged <65 years. Severe refractory adult-onset asthma is associated with similar levels of asthma control, higher blood eosinophils and less atopy than severe refractory childhood-onset asthma.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Spears, Dr Mark and Cowan, Douglas and Husi, Dr Holger and Thomson, Professor Neil and Chaudhuri, Dr Rekha and McSharry, Dr Charles and Bucknall, Dr Christine and Shepherd, Professor Malcolm
Authors: Chaudhuri, R., McSharry, C., Heaney, L. G., Niven, R., Brightling, C. E., Menzies-Gow, A. N., Bucknall, C., Mansur, A. H., Lee, W., Shepherd, M., Spears, M., Cowan, D. C., Husi, H., and Thomson, N. C.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Cardiovascular & Metabolic Health
College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity
College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing
Journal Name:Respiratory Medicine
Publisher:Elsevier
ISSN:0954-6111
Published Online:09 July 2016
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd.
First Published:First published in Respiratory Medicine 118: 46-52
Publisher Policy:Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy

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