Inhaled Drug Use in Elderly Patients and Limitations in Association With Geriatric Assessment Scores

Abstract

The study of the association between geriatric profile and the use of inhaled respiratory drugs would help to identify age-related factors that might indicate poor inhaler use and technique. We selected 117 patients older than 74 years receiving chronic treatment with inhaled respiratory drugs to participate in this descriptive, cross-sectional, multicenter study. The following variables were analyzed: age, sex, institutionalization, carer assistance, inhaled drugs, prescribed regimen, actual regimen followed by the patient, initial indication, concomitant use of drugs that could exacerbate the underlying disease, adverse effects, basic geriatric assessment scores, treatment adherence, inhalation technique, and spirometric variables. In all, 5.4% of the patients had moderate to severe cognitive impairment; 2.2%, considerable or total dependency in terms of activities of daily living; and, 14%, considerable or total dependency in terms of instrumental activities of daily living. Twenty-three percent had symptoms of depression and 5.4% (all men) were depressed. Forty percent of the patients analyzed were considered to be at psychosocial risk. Inhalation technique scores were not correlated with any of the other variables analyzed. Higher scores were obtained when dry powder inhalers were used to administer anticholinergic agents and when capsule-based inhalers were used to administer corticosteroids concomitantly with long-acting beta(2)-agonists. Tests readily administered in daily practice to detect age-related deterioration may not accurately predict optimal use of inhaler devices.