Monograph

The ERS Monograph is the quarterly book series from the ERS.

Each Monograph covers a specific area of respiratory medicine, providing in-depth reviews that give clinicians at all levels a concise, comprehensive guide to symptoms, diagnosis and treatment.

Respiratory Diseases in the Elderly

European Respiratory Society Monograph, Vol. 43. 2009

ISBN: 978-1-904097-66-2

The world population is rapidly ageing. As a consequence, the portion of the elderly burdened with polipathology and disability will grow, while economic resources to support it will shrink, due to the contraction of the working force. This will require a long-term preventive political strategy but there are also selected healthcare interventions that can be easily implemented to decrease the negative impact of this demographic trend on the well being of our societies. Examples are strategies that slow functional decline and preserve personal capabilities in geriatric populations. Instrumental in developing these strategies is an in-depth knowledge of how older age affects the expression of chronic diseases through several mechanisms, such as age related comorbidity and cognitive/affective problems, decline/loss of social support, or atypical clinical presentations and special diagnostic problems. All this makes the elderly patient a complex client for the individual physician and for the healthcare system, and renders the traditional ''specialist'' approach poorly effective.

The Guest Editors Eur Respir Mon; 2009: 43: vii
Preface Eur Respir Mon; 2009: 43: viii
Introduction Eur Respir Mon; 2009: 43: ix–xi
The epidemiological link between ageing and respiratory diseases G. Viegi, S. Maio, M. Simoni, S. Baldacci, I. Annesi-Maesano Eur Respir Mon; 2009: 43: 1–17
Respiratory function standards in the elderly R. Pistelli, M. Andreani, F. Baldari, S. Sammarro Eur Respir Mon; 2009: 43: 18–24
Spirometry in old age: feasibility and interpretation P. Enright, S. Lehmann Eur Respir Mon; 2009: 43: 25–34
Multidimensional assessment and treatment of the elderly with COPDR R. Antonelli Incalzi, C. Pedone, M. Pahor Eur Respir Mon; 2009: 43: 35–55
Asthma in the elderly V. Bellia, N. Scichilone, S. Battaglia Eur Respir Mon; 2009: 43: 56–76
Hidden realities of COPD among the very old D.B. Coultas, K. Davis Eur Respir Mon; 2009: 43: 77–89
COPD exacerbations in old age: how to prevent, detect and treat M. Miravitlles Eur Respir Mon; 2009: 43: 90–110
Community-acquired pneumonia in the elderly V. Kaplan, S. Yende, D.C. Angus Eur Respir Mon; 2009: 43: 111–132
Aspiration and long-term care as risk factors for pneumonia in elderly patients M. Kikawada Eur Respir Mon; 2009: 43: 133–141
Diseases associated with restrictive lung function impairment R.C. Stansbury, D.M. Mannino Eur Respir Mon; 2009: 43: 142–149
Interstitial lung disease in elderly subjects M. Selman, P. Spagnolo, L. Richeldi Eur Respir Mon; 2009: 43: 150–162
Diagnosing pulmonary embolism in elderly patients: a difficult challenge M. Righini, H. Bounameaux Eur Respir Mon; 2009: 43: 163–178
Sleep-disordered breathing in the elderly M.R. Bonsignore, W. McNicholas Eur Respir Mon; 2009: 43: 179–204
Comorbidity: a distinctive feature of elderly respiratory patients B.G. Cosío, A. Agustí Eur Respir Mon; 2009: 43: 205–216
Nonrespiratory determinants of respiratory impairment in elderlypatients: heart failure and diabetes M. Guazzi, L. Fuso Eur Respir Mon; 2009: 43: 217–239
New modalities of nutritional aspects of pulmonary disease in the elderly E.P.A. Rutten, E.F.M. Wouters Eur Respir Mon; 2009: 43: 240–255
Practical aspects of inhaler therapy in frail elderly patients S.C. Allen Eur Respir Mon; 2009: 43: 256–266
Are current treatment recommendations suited to elderly patients with asthma or COPD? P. Ernst, M. Wilchesky, S. Suissa Eur Respir Mon; 2009: 43: 267–285
Noninvasive ventilation: a remedy for geriatric patients J-F. Muir, D. Benhamou, C. Molano, A. Cuvelier Eur Respir Mon; 2009: 43: 286–305
Lung cancer: does age affect treatment strategy? M. Spatafora, P. Maione, F. Perrone, C. Gridelli Eur Respir Mon; 2009: 43:306–326
Palliative and end-of-life care for patients with respiratory disease D.M.G. Halpin, D.A. Seamark, C.J. Seamark Eur Respir Mon; 2009: 43:327–353
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