ASTHMA IN THE ELDERLY PATIENT

Asthma is common in old age and carries significant morbidity and mort ality. Most deaths due to asthma occur in old people. Often the diagno sis of asthma is overshadowed by other medical problems such as heart failure and emphysema, and thus elderly people may not receive optimal treatment. The treatment of an elderly patient with asthma is further complicated by concomitant disease and pharmacological interactions.