Morbidity in older people with self-reported asthma

Objective: to investigate the differences in physical and psychological morbidity in older people with and without self-reported asthma and whether these are associated with use of more medication and hospital services. Design: cross-sectional study of changes in health services for older people. Setting: South Wales in 1990 and 1992. Subjects: a population-based random sample of 2818 people aged 65 years and over. Main outcome measures: prevalence of self-reported asthma; assessment of disability, anxiety, depression and memory using standardized measures; mobility; use of prescribed medication and hospital services. Results: 231 subjects with self-reported asthma were identified. The prevalence of asthma was 8%, which was not significantly different between the sexes (P = 0.88), age groups (P = 0.06) or social classes (P = 0.108). There was a significant relationship between asthma and functional and physical disability (severe disability 29% vs 16%, P < 0.0001), mobility (housebound 7% ea 4%, P < 0.05), anxiety (37% vs 20%, P < 0.0001), depression (19% vs 10%, P < 0.001), poor perceived health status (23% vs 9%, P < 0.0001), number of different medications (seven or more, 13% vs 4%, P < 0.0001) and inpatient (P < 0.0001) and outpatient (P < 0.05) use of hospital services. Conclusions: there is excess psychological and physical morbidity and poorer perceived health status in older people with self-reported asthma.