Late-onset asthma

Last revised by David Luong on 14 Jul 2021

Late-onset asthma (LOA) is a form of asthma that precipitates in the adult or the elderly. 

Epidemiology

The estimated age- and sex-adjusted incidence of newly diagnosed asthma in people older than 65 years at around 0.1% per year 1. There may be a greater female predilection.

Pathology

From a phenotypical perspective, late-onset asthma is divided into two types depending on the presence or absence of eosinophilic inflammation, T-helper (Th)2- and non-Th2-associated LOA. It is less often associated with allergy and atopic diseases

Treatment and prognosis

It is thought to have a low remission rate. Many patients with adult-onset asthma can have a poor prognosis with a faster decline in lung function 3.

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