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Treating COPD in the Elderly
The treatment of seniors (age 66 and older) who have both asthma and disease (COPD) has become increasingly difficult, as their younger counterparts are thought to experience less lung inflammation when receiving the same treatment. Thus, a study was undertaken to determine which medications work best for older adults with COPD.
Published in The Journal of American Medical Association, the study states that “knowing which prescription medications are the most effective in improving health outcomes for people with COPD is essential to maximizing health outcomes.”
It was determined that a combined treatment of long-acting beta agonists and inhaled corticosteroids is most effective treatment of COPD. Among seniors specifically, there were 8 percent fewer deaths and hospitalizations during the length of the study among those taking both medications. Even more striking was the 16 percent decrease in deaths and hospitalizations for those seniors with comorbidity who took only the long-acting beta agonists.
By singling out seniors aged 66 and older, researchers are able to emphasize the significance and potentially life-saving importance of personalized COPD treatment.
