Comorbidities of Lung Disease in the Elderly

Abstract

Comorbidities are common in elderly individuals with chronic respiratory diseases. They can affect disease manifestations and severity and can even impact management. Comorbidities can affect the treatment of the lung disease, particularly because of the interaction with the respiratory drugs. Thus, a multidimensional approach with multidisciplinary intervention is suggested for elderly respiratory patients, switching from a disease-oriented scheme to a dysfunction-oriented approach. Unfortunately, older individuals are often excluded from clinical trials because of advanced age and comorbidities. This article reviews the role of comorbidities in the management of respiratory diseases in the elderly.

Keywords: Aging; Asthma; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Comorbidity; Idiopathic lung fibrosis; Senile lung.