Psychological status and quality of life in elderly patients with asthma

The psychological status and quality of life of 70 stable patients with asthma age greater than or equal to60 years and 40 age-matched comparison subjects were examined. The patients with long-standing asthma (duration greater than or equal to 8 years) had lower quality-of-life scores than those with recent-onset asthma (duration < 8 years). In multivariate linear regression analysis with adjustment for age, gender, duration of disease, and level of bronchial hyperreactivity, worse quality of life was predicted by anxiety, depression, and asthma severity scores. In elderly patients with long-standing asthma, disease severity significantly impairs quality of life. Impaired quality of life in these patients may be partly related to psychological status indicators.