Examining the Effects of Age on Health Outcomes of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Results From the Genetic Epidemiology of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Study and Evaluation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Longitudinally to Identify Predictive Surrogate Endpoints Cohorts.
Amit D Parulekar, Carlos Martinez, Chu-Lin Tsai and 14 others
PMID 29169736WHAT IT FOUND
Older adults with COPD reported better quality of life despite worse lung function.
Frequent exacerbations were lower after accounting for other factors, but severe exacerbation findings differed.
Key findings
01Older participants had worse lung function and exercise tolerance but better respiratory health status.
02After adjustment, older age was associated with lower odds of frequent exacerbation in both cohorts, but severe exacerbation risk differed by cohort.
03Older participants had more common comorbidities in both cohorts.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The comparison was cross-sectional and uncontrolled, so it cannot show how COPD changes as a person ages. Older age was defined by a 65-year cut-off, which may not fit all patients. Medication use and adherence were not analyzed, and inhaler technique or cognitive problems could affect outcomes. The study excluded people without COPD, GOLD grade 1 disease, sleep apnea, bronchiectasis, and depression, so results do not cover those groups. Severe exacerbation was defined differently in the cohorts, and the severe exacerbation result was not consistent.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read the better quality of life scores as proof that older COPD patients are less ill. They had worse lung function and shorter walk distances, and the study cannot show that aging caused this difference.