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Background: Not all morphological lung changes in the elderly contribute to respiratory disease and may be a consequence of normal aging. Objectives: To describe the changes in asymptomatic elderly patients compared with those in younger patients in a Thai population. Methods: The study cohort comprised 60 participants without respiratory symptoms in three groups of 20 by age: 20−40 years, 41−60 years, and >60 years. Participants were prospectively selected from patients referred for computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen, or head and neck, and underwent sequential CT during deep breathing at four lung levels. Two observers scored images by consensus. We compared groups using Pearson chi-square and Fisher exact tests, and used receiver operating characteristic curves to categorize bronchiectasis and bronchial wall thickening by age. Results: Air trapping was related to age (5/20 group 1, 7/20 group 2, and 18/20 group 3 (P <0.01)) and was most prevalent in lower lobes (78%, P < 0.01). Reticulation was found in only one middle aged patient (P = 0.36). Bronchiectasis was more common in patients <56 years (7/23) than <56 years (3/37), P = 0.035. Bronchial wall thickening (7/23 in patients >56 years and 2/37 in patients <56 years, P = 0.02) and extensive air trapping were related to age (0/6 group 1, 1/6 group 2, and 5/6 group 3, P = 0.02). Findings were independent of smoking history. Conclusions: Asymptomatic older patients had higher prevalence of bronchiectasis, bronchial wall thickening, and air trapping, independent of smoking history.

RadioVolunteer, a project launched by the Royal College of Radiologists of Thailand, combinedsocial, technological and management innovation, and integrated government, private and non-profit sectors, to overcome a complex task that only one sector could not seamlessly complete. Working on a digital platform which allowed radiologist volunteers from any part of Thailand to promptly read and report chest radiographs of patients with corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) who resided in prisons across the country. Its digitized reporting format helped triage patients with Covid-19 pneumonia, and also screen for tuberculosis.

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