Introduction:

The elderly is especially prone to the adverse health effects of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which is a common disorder in that population.

Aim:

 compare the epidemiological-clinical and therapeutic characteristics of COPD in elderly patients.

Methods:

 A retrospective study including160patients.We divided the population into two groups:

 Group1(G1=51patients):young adults aged<65years-old.

 Group2(G2=109patients):subjects aged ?65years?old.

Result:

All patients in both groups were male. In G1,the average age was57.27years[40-64 years] while in G2 it was 75.65years[65-93](p=0,08).The average BMI in G1 was lower than G2(p=0.57). Smoking was more noticeable in young patients(98%)compared to elderly subjects(93.6%)(p=0.438).GOLD 3was the most frequent in both groups.The age was not significantly associated with GOLD.Group D was the most predominant in both groups(G2:58.1%vsG1:49%) (p=0,25).Dyspnea was the most marked reason for consultation during an exacerbation in both groups(G1:100%vsG2:98.16%)(p=1).The pleural syndrome was significantly more noticeable in young subjects than in elderly subjects(p=0.039).Among the patients who underwent a chest CT scan,emphysema was more localized in young subjects and more diffuse in elderly subjects(p=0.44).Oxygen therapy was more indicated inG2(80.73%)than G1(74.5%) (p=0.37).Antibiotic therapy was prescribed significantly more inG2 than InG1(G1:90.19%vsG2: 99%,p=0.013).Systemic corticosteroid therapy was prescribed more inG2 than G1(G1:90.1%vsG2:94.49%,p=0.32).The average duration of hospitalization was longer inG2 (8.5 days[1-35 days])compared to G1(8.18 days [1-24 days])(p=0,36).

Conclusion:

COPDin older adults is a complex desorder with  several unique age-related aspects.