Abstract

MORAIS-ALMEIDA, Mário et al. Asthma and rhinitis in the elderly: Nationwide epidemiologic study. Rev Port Imunoalergologia [online]. 2014, vol.22, n.1, pp.33-42. ISSN 0871-9721.

Introduction: Asthma and rhinitis are frequent respiratory diseases in both children and adults. However, nationwide epidemiologic studies addressing these diseases in the elderly do not exist. Aims: To estimate the prevalence of physician-diagnosed asthma, rhinitis and rhinoconjunctivitis in the population aged 65 years or above in mainland Portugal and to evaluate its association in this age group. Methods: Cross-sectional, nationwide, population-based survey of citizens aged 65 years or above, living in mainland Portugal. Results: Data were obtained from 3678 respondents. The prevalence of physician-diagnosed asthma, rhinitis and rhinoconjunctivitis was 10.9% (95% confidence interval (95%CI) 9.9-11.9); 29.8% (95%CI 28.4-31.3) and 20.5% (95%CI 19.2-21.8), respectively. A strong association between asthma and rhinitis was found (odds ratio 13.86 (95%CI 10.66-18.02)). The risk for asthma increased with persistency and severity of rhinitis. Conclusions: Asthma, rhinitis and rhinoconjunctivitis are common and strongly associated diseases in the elderly. This study strengthens the need for an integrated assessment of asthma and rhinitis also in this age group

Keywords : Asthma; elderly; epidemiology; prevalence; rhinitis; rhinoconjunctivitis.

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