BRONCHIAL RESPONSIVENESS OF AGED ASTHMATIC-PATIENTS TO BRONCHODILATORAND METHACHOLINE

Geriatric asthma is characterized by prolonged illness, lower remissio n rate, poor response to therapy and higher mortality rate, We studied bronchodilator response and methacholine challenge in 25 aged non-smo king asthmatic patients; thirty-two young asthmatic patients were incl uded as control. The elderly patients had poorer baseline pulmonary fu nction and were more responsive to a bronchodilator than the younger p atients. The response to bronchoprovocation did not show any differenc e between the two groups. Our findings suggested that the airways of e lderly asthmatics are as sensitive as those of younger patients and sh ould not be undertreated.