Characteristics of asthma in an older adult population according to sex and control level: why are asthma symptoms in older women not well-controlled?

Abstract

Objective

The older adult population in Turkey has increased by 22.6% in the last 5 years, and the characteristics of such patients with asthma remain uninvestigated. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the characteristics of older adults with asthma according to sex and asthma control status to provide an in-depth overview of asthma in this population in Turkey.

Methods

The data of older adults (age 65 years and over) with asthma were obtained from a multicenter, cross-sectional asthma database registry (Turkish Adult Asthma Registry, TAAR) funded by the Turkish Thoracic Society. Comparisons were made based on sex and asthma control levels using the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) Asthma Symptom Control Questionnaire.

Results

Of the 2053 (11.5%) patients registered with the TAAR, 227 were older adults (median age, 69 (8), women, 75.8% (n = 172)). Of these, 46.5% (n = 101) had obesity to some degree. Compared with men, women had lower education, income levels, and employment rates. Additionally, women exhibited a higher prevalence of obesity, hypertension, and thyroid gland disease than men. Being female (OR: 2.99; 95% CI: 1.307–6.880), the presence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (OR: 2.855; 95% CI: 1.330–6.130), and a predicted forced expiratory volume in the first-second value lower than 80% (OR: 2.938; 95% CI: 1.451–5.948) were associated with poorly controlled asthma.

Conclusions

Herein, older adults comprised 11.5% of adult patients with asthma. Being female poses a disadvantage in terms of both asthma prevalence and control in the older adult asthmatic population owing to the prevalence of comorbidities and socioeconomic sex-related distinguishing factors.

Keywords:

• Asthma
• asthma control
• sex
• elderly

Acknowledgements

The authors thank David F. Chapman for the revision of the English in this manuscript.

Author contributions

GEC is the coordinator of this study project and she is responsible for conceptualizing the scope of this study’s research question. Statistical analysis was performed by YY. The draft manuscript was written by DK and sent to supervisor EYU. Following the feedback and contribution of the authors, GEC, EYU, AB, ABÖ, NB, MK, and SK reviewed and combined the contributions from all authors and finalized the manuscript. After finalization, all authors approved the manuscript.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.

Additional information

Funding

This project was funded by the Turkish Thoracic Society (Project Number: Y-083-2021).