Spirometry Screening for Respiratory Obstruction in Asymptomatic Elderly

Background: Elderly people are especial ly prone to the adverse heal th ef fects of chronic obst ructive pulmonary
disease (COPD) , which is a common disorder in that population. Al though the prevalence and morbidi ty of COPD
in the elderly are high, i t is of ten undiagnosed.
Aim: To evaluate the prevalence of ai rway obst ruction among asymptomatic elderly.
Methods: A cross sectional study was carried over a period of one year where 100 elderly patients aged 60 years
and older were recrui ted f rom the outpatiens geriaric cl inic in Ain Shams Universi ty Hospi tal . Each patient
underwent detai led history taking including smoking history and medication review, detai led general medical
examination and cogni tive assessment by Mini - mental status examination test. Elderly wi th a physician
diagnosis of asthma, COPD or another chronic respi rato ry condi tion were excluded. Al l subjects completed
spi romet ry testing to diagnose ai rway obst ruction. .
Results: The sample included 100 participants wi th a mean age of 64.3±3.1years, 52% male and 48% female,
mean body mass index was 29.3 ±1.5 and mean mini mental state examination 24.45± 2.3. As regard smoking
61% never smoked. 9% ex -smoker and 30% current smoker . Spi rometery in the cur rent study demonst rated that
72% had obst ructed ai rway disease (none of them were diagnosed previously to have chronic bron chi tis) classi fied
to mi ld, moderate and severe (35%, 33%, 4%) respectively.
Conclusions: Spi romet ry screening of asymptomatic elderly may help detection of individuals wi th ai rway
obst ruction, who are at high risk of developing COPD. Addi tional data is n ecessary regarding the cl inical benefi t
and cost -effective of screening before spi romet ry can be recommended in general practice.
Background: Elderly people are especial ly prone to the adverse heal th ef fects of chronic obst ructive pulmonary
disease (COPD) , which is a common disorder in that population. Al though the prevalence and morbidi ty of COPD
in the elderly are high, i t is of ten undiagnosed.
Aim: To evaluate the prevalence of ai rway obst ruction among asymptomatic elderly.
Methods: A cross sectional study was carried over a period of one year where 100 elderly patients aged 60 years
and older were recrui ted f rom the outpatiens geriaric cl inic in Ain Shams Universi ty Hospi tal . Each patient
underwent detai led history taking including smoking history and medication review, detai led general medical
examination and cogni tive assessment by Mini - mental status examination test. Elderly wi th a physician
diagnosis of asthma, COPD or another chronic respi rato ry condi tion were excluded. Al l subjects completed
spi romet ry testing to diagnose ai rway obst ruction. .
Results: The sample included 100 participants wi th a mean age of 64.3±3.1years, 52% male and 48% female,
mean body mass index was 29.3 ±1.5 and mean mini mental state examination 24.45± 2.3. As regard smoking
61% never smoked. 9% ex -smoker and 30% current smoker . Spi rometery in the cur rent study demonst rated that
72% had obst ructed ai rway disease (none of them were diagnosed previously to have chronic bron chi tis) classi fied
to mi ld, moderate and severe (35%, 33%, 4%) respectively.
Conclusions: Spi romet ry screening of asymptomatic elderly may help detection of individuals wi th ai rway
obst ruction, who are at high risk of developing COPD. Addi tional data is n ecessary regarding the cl inical benefi t
and cost -effective of screening before spi romet ry can be recommended in general practice.