Allergic asthma: differences in characteristics between younger and older patients

Abstract

Allergic asthma is generally more severe in older than in younger individuals. To assess the reasons for severity, the clinical characteristics of younger (16-55 years; n = 57) and older (> 55 years; n=23) adults with allergic asthma were compared. Although their allergy profiles were similar, the older group had a lower level of education and worse asthma control. Older asthmatics of our population were less familiar to Internet-based asthma education compared to younger group and the Internet education does not seem achievable and/or suitable for them.