Quality of life in elderly subjects with a diagnostic label of asthma fromgeneral practice registers

The aim of this study was to assess health-related quality of life (QoL) in elderly subjects with a diagnostic label of asthma from a general practice population, and to determine the main contributory factors. Sixty people aged greater than or equal to 70 yrs with a primary care diagn ostic label of asthma, and 43 control subjects were recruited. Assessment o f bronchodilator response, and oral steroid trials were conducted where pos sible. The main outcome measures were QoL scores for the Short Form (SF)-36 and the St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ). In the asthma group, 29 subjects demonstrated a significant airway response to bronchodilators or steroids. Mean SF-36 scores were significantly worse in the total asthma group for components of physical function, physical ro le limitation, and general health, although psychological scores were simil ar. QoL remained worse than controls in those subjects with a significant b ronchodilator response. Dyspnoea and depression accounted for 61% of the va riance in the SGRQ, but forced expiratory volume in one second was not an i ndependent variable. Quality of life is impaired in elderly people with a diagnosis of asthma, i ncluding those with demonstrable airway variability. Many older subjects wi th asthma note a variety of symptoms, highlighting the need for further res earch into the adequacy and efficacy of their treatment.