Adherence to Asthma Therapy in Elderly Patients

Abstract

Low adherence to antiasthmatic treatment is common in elderly people. Proper monitoring of asthma by the use of diary or assessment of drugs packages with estimation of depression symptoms and cognition status could increase the compliance and asthma control in this group of patients.

Evaluation of factors affecting adherence to asthma controller therapy in chest clinics in a sub-Saharan African setting: a cross-sectional study

“…On the contrary, Apter et al did not observe any relationship between age and adherence to asthma controller mediation in a similar study in the United States 27 . Interestingly, in another study involving elderly asthma patients aged 65 years and above, the treatment adherence was very low 28 . These conflicting results are probably due to the differences in the methods used to assess adherence in these studies.…”

A qualitative investigation of the impact of asthma and self-management strategies among older adults

“…Further complicating adherence with these behaviors is that older adults are also experiencing age-related changes that can compromise their cognitive and physical resources [9,10]. The consequences are clear; previous research has found that 9 to 40% of older adults with asthma were adherent to their asthma controller medication [2,11], and fewer than half demonstrated accurate technique in using a meter dose or dry powder inhaler [2]. 4 Self-management support, one component of the Chronic Care Model (CCM), posits that patients are vital in maintaining personal health and function; self-management support programs seek to promote an individual's skills and confidence in managing chronic conditions [12].…”

Study of Psychosocial Factors in Young and Elderly Asthmatics

“…This will result in better asthma management and the subsequent increasing well being will improve the psychosocial parameters also. 17 It was found that there were statistically significant differences in the elderly and young asthmatics with regards to presence of depressive symptoms, impairment of social functioning, presence of emotional problems and impairment of quality of life. Even after extensive search of literature, no study comparing the various psychosocial parameters amongst elderly and young asthmatics could be found.…”