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Respiratory Disorders in the Oldest of the Old

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Advanced Age Geriatric Care

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Abstract

This chapter provides an overview of the respiratory diseases affecting the very elderly. The most common causes of morbidity and hospital admission in the very elderly include pneumonia, COPD exacerbations, respiratory failure, and lung cancer. Ageing has effects on the respiratory system with both chest wall and lung parenchymal changes leading to age-related decreases in respiratory function. The role of non-invasive ventilation and ventilatory support is also explored in this chapter.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    Jimmy Chien

  2. Department of Respiratory Sleep Medicine, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, NSW, Australia

    Jimmy Chien

Authors
  1. Jimmy Chien
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jimmy Chien .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    Nages Nagaratnam

  2. Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    Kujan Nagaratnam

  3. Rehabilitation and Aged Care Service, Blacktown-Mt Druitt Hospital, Blacktown, NSW, Australia

    Gary Cheuk

Multiple-Choice Questions

Multiple-Choice Questions

  1. 1.

    The following are true of pneumonia in the elderly, except:

    1. A.

      The most common causative bacterial organism is Streptococcus pneumoniae.

    2. B.

      Fever, productive cough, and chest pains occur frequently.

    3. C.

      Patients with severe pneumonia who require admission have significant co-morbidities.

    4. D.

      For those with penicillin allergies, a fluoroquinolone antibiotic may be used.

  2. 2.

    The following are true of acute respiratory failure, except:

    1. A.

      The main causes of respiratory failure in the oldest patients include cardiac failure, pneumonia, COPD, and pulmonary embolism.

    2. B.

      For critically ill elderly patients in acute hypercapnic hypoxic respiratory failure, intubation and mechanical ventilation is an option for patients or their relatives.

    3. C.

      The target oxygen saturation range should be 88–92 for all patients at risk of or with a history of hypercapnia.

    4. D.

      In the elderly population with a history of chronic respiratory disease, patients presenting with respiratory failure may be at risk of hypercapnia.

Answers

  1. 1.

    B

  2. 2.

    B

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Chien, J. (2019). Respiratory Disorders in the Oldest of the Old. In: Nagaratnam, N., Nagaratnam, K., Cheuk, G. (eds) Advanced Age Geriatric Care. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-96998-5_23

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-96998-5_23

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-96997-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-96998-5

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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