Aging and Lung Disease. A Clinical Guide

People age 65 and older are the fastest growing segment of the U.S. population. In the 2010 census 16% of the population, 50 million people, were age 65 and older. That number is projected to increase to 66 million by the year 2050. Life expectancy has also increased, with recent CDC reports indicating life expectancy at 77.9 years. Age-adjusted death rates have decreased significantly with the largest changes occurring in older patients. Despite these trends, the 10 leading causes of death include several pulmonary etiologies including lung cancer, chronic respiratory diseases, influenza and pneumonia.

Aging and Lung Disease: A Clinical Guide is devoted to understanding the impact of respiratory diseases in older patients. It includes reviews of physiology of the aging lung, allergy and immunology of the aging, as well as sleep changes over the life cycle. There are also comprehensive reviews on specific disease topics including chronic obstructive lung disease, lung cancer, atypical mycobacteria, interstitial lung disease, pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary embolism, obstructive sleep apnea, and sleep disorders in older patients. Two chapters focus on unique issues in older patients; HIV and lung transplant. Included also are important chapters on assessing functional and cognitive status and end-of-life issues in older patients with lung disease. In addition to outlining the current state of knowledge, each chapter focuses on special considerations when caring for older patients. Of particular interest to pulmonologists, internists, and gerontologists, other readers, such as pulmonary and geriatric nurse practitioners, as well as clinical researchers interested in both pulmonary and aging issues, will find Aging and Lung Disease: A Clinical Guide to be a vital resource for improving their care of older patients with lung disorders.

Content Level » Professional/practitioner

Keywords » Aging lung - Allergy - Asthma - COPD - Cognititve status - HIV - Interstitial Lung Disease - Lung Cancer - Lung disease - Nontuberculous Mycobacteria - Pulmonary Embolism - Pulmonary Hypertension - Sleep Apnea

Related subjects » Internal Medicine - Medicine
Table of contents

Section One: Physiologic Changes



Chapter 1 - Physiologic Changes in the Aging Lung, by Carlos A. Vaz Fragoso, MD



Chapter 2 - Allergy and Immunology of the Aging Lung, by Flavia C. L. Hoyte, MD, and Rohit K. Katial, MD



Chapter 3 - Physiologic Changes in Sleep with Aging, by Stephanie O. Zandieh, MD, MSc, and Elliott S. Katz, MD





Section Two: Lung Diseases in Older Patients-Epidemiology, Presentation, Diagnosis, Treatment



Chapter 4 - Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Older Patients, by Shiwan K. Shah, DO, Shawn P.E. Nishi, MD, and Gulshan Sharma MD, MPH



Chapter 5 - Lung Cancer in Older Patients, by Lynn Tanoue, MD, and Scott Gettinger, MD



Chapter 6 - Pulmonary Hypertension in Older Patients, by Kerri Akaya Smith, MD, and Aaron B. Waxman, MD, PhD



Chapter 7 - Pulmonary Embolism in Older Patients, by Aditi Mathur, MD, Maor Sauler, MD, and Margaret Pisani, MD, MPH



Chapter 8 - Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Older Patients, by Francoise J. Roux, MD, PhD


Chapter 9 - Sleep Disorders in Older Patients, by Carolyn D’Ambrosio, MD, and Farhan Siddiqui, MD



Chapter 10 – Non-tuberculous Mycobacterial Infection in Older Patients, by Madhavi Parekh, MD, David Kamelhar, MD, and Neil W. Schluger, MD



Chapter 11 - Interstitial Lung Disease in Older Patients, by Danielle Antin-Ozerkis, MD



Chapter 12 - Lung Disease in Older Patients with HIV, by Kristina Crothers, MD, and Kathleen M. Akgun, MD

Chapter 13 - Special Considerations in Lung Transplantation in Older Patients, by Timothy Floreth, MD, and Sangeeta M. Bhorade, MD



Chapter 14 - Assessment of Functional and Cognitive Status in Older Patients with Lung Disease, by Prema R. Menon, MBBS, and Renee D. Stapleton, MD, PhD



Chapter 15 - Addressing End-of-Life Issues in Older Patients with Lung Disease, by J. Randall Curtis, MD, MPH, Margaret L. Isaac, MD