eMJA: Asthma in older adults: a holistic, person-centred and problem-oriented approach

Editorials

Asthma in older adults: a holistic, person-centred and problem-oriented approach

Guy B Marks, Leanne M Poulos, Christine R Jenkins and Peter G Gibson

MJA 2009; 191 (4): 197-199

Regardless of how obstructive lung disease is labelled, targeting treatment to components of the problem is the best solution

Three-quarters of deaths due to asthma in Australia occur among people aged 55 years or older.1,2 Many more deaths and hospitalisations in older people are attributed to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).2 Between 1997 and 2003, 318 deaths per year were attributed to asthma and 5581 deaths per year were attributed to COPD among Australians aged 55 and over.2 How can we do better than we are now in dealing with this problem?

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