Bronchial asthma in the elderly. Ventilatory function in each clinical asthma type.

Ventilatory function was examined in 20 elderly patients with bronchial asthma in relation to clinical asthma types, and the results were compared with those of younger asthmatics. 1. Ventilatory parameters such as FEV(1.0%), % PEFR, % MMF, % V(50) and % V(25), which repressent obstructive ventilatory dysfunction, were in general lower in older asthmatics than in the youger cases. 2. The values of % V(50) and % V(25), representing ventilatory dysfunction in small airways, were significantly lower in the older subjects with type Ib and II compared to the younger cases with same types. 3. Markedly decreased values in ventilatory parameters, particularly in % MMF, % V(50) and　% V(25) were observed in both older and younger subjects with type II. The results suggest that ventilatory function decreases with aging and the decrease is related to the pathophysiological changes in the airways.

60才以上の老年気管支喘息20例(平均年令;66.7才)を対象に,その換気機能について,臨床病態別に59才以下の症例(平均年令;44.9才)との比較検討を行った｡1.FFV(1.0%), % PEFR, % MMF, % V50, % V25などの閉塞性換気障害を表すパラメーターは,59才以下の症例に比べ老年症例で全般的に低い傾向が見られた｡2.小ないし細気管支領域の換気榛能を反映すると考えられる% V(50)および% V(25)は,Ib型およびII型喘息を示す老年症例において,59才以下の症例に比べ,有意に低い値を示した｡3.II型喘息症例では,59才以下および老年症例のいずれにおいても, %　MMF, % V(50)および% V(25)は他の臨床病型にくらべ著明に低い値を示した｡これらの結果は,気管支喘息における換気機能は,加令とともに低下傾向を示すこと,そしてその低下は臨床病態と関連していることを示しているものと考えられた｡