FUNCTIONAL STATUS OF ELDERLY PEOPLE TREATED FOR ASTHMA-RELATED SYMPTOMS - A POPULATION-BASED CASE-CONTROL STUDY

There are few data on the disability caused by asthma in elderly subje cts. The aim of this survey was to assess the functional status of a p opulation aged 65 years or more, being treated for asthma-related symp toms. A representative sample of 3,777 elderly people, living at home in the SouthWest of France, was surveyed using a standardized question naire on factors of ageing and their consequences. To assess the funct ional status, five scales were used: Activities of Daily Living (ADL); Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL); Rosow and Breslau sca le; Mobility; and a Subjective Health Scale. Patients treated for asth ma-related symptoms were identified by means of their use of the anti- asthma drugs mentioned in the questionnaire. In a second stage, the pr esence of asthma-related symptoms was further established by enquiring from their general practitioners and by direct questioning of the pat ients. Among 135 subjects taking anti-asthma drugs, 83 (61%) had posit ive responses to specific questions, either from their doctors or from themselves, allowing them to be identified as ''asthmatic''. In compa rison with a control group matched for age and sex (n=166; two control s for each patient), asthmatic patients had a higher dependence in the IADL scale, a greater self-assessment of poor health, and a greater h andicap in mobility. However, they had the same level of ADL disabilit y as controls. Despite adjustment for residential area, depressive sym ptoms, Mini Mental Status (MMS) Exam score, visual and auditory impair ment, and joint pain, patients treated for asthma still had a higher r isk of disability in daily life, and a poorer subjective health than c ontrols. Dyspnoea appears to be the main factor of disability in subje cts treated for asthma. In conclusion, these data indicate the poor fu nctional status of subjects treated for active asthma. This appears, f or a large part, to be the consequence of their dyspnoea.