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Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in the Elderly

An Update on Pharmacological Management

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Abstract

The prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) continues to rise in association with an aging Western society. While barriers to receiving optimal healthcare exist for aging patients, pharmacotherapy of COPD in the elderly is important because the treatment benefits in this group are comparable to those seen in the younger COPD population. The frequent presence of co-morbidities and reduced clearance capacity make selection of pharmacotherapy in elderly patients with stable COPD challenging. The adverse effects of standard therapy for COPD may also be more pronounced in elderly patients. A careful risk-versus-benefit assessment should always be carried out when prescribing long-term inhaled bronchodilator and corticosteroid therapy to an elderly COPD patient, and when prescribing β2-adrenoceptor agonists and methylxanthines, in particular, to those with cardiovascular co-morbidities. The present review focuses on the special considerations regarding initiation and maintenance of pharmacotherapy in elderly patients with stable COPD.

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Acknowledgements

No sources of funding were used to assist in the preparation of this review. The authors have no conflicts of interest that are directly relevant to the content of this review.

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  1. Department of Pharmacy, New York Presbyterian Hospital, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA

    Amy L. Dzierba

  2. Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York, USA

    Sanja Jelic

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Dzierba, A.L., Jelic, S. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in the Elderly. Drugs Aging 26, 447–456 (2009). https://doi.org/10.2165/00002512-200926060-00001

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