Asthma in the elderly patients: an integrative review

Introduction: Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease, characterized by hyperactive responsiveness of the lower airways and by variable airflow limitation, reversible spontaneously or with treatment. Asthma can appear initially at any age, from newborns to old age, concomitantly or not with allergies of the upper airways, and in the elderly the tendency is chronicity, rather than recurrent crises in childhood. Objective: This study aims to review the literature related to asthma in the elderly, with analysis of clinical characteristics, means of diagnosis and therapeutics in this age group. Method: This study constituted a systematic review of theoretical references with search for scientific articles in national and international electronic databases. Conclusion: The key to successful asthmatic treatment is the correct knowledge of the disease, the triggering factors, its avoidance to avoid crises and the correct pharmacological treatment when necessary.