Ventilatory defects and treatable traits in very elderly patients.

Though the approach used to classify chronic respiratory diseases is changing to a treatable-traits (TT) approach, data regarding very elderly patients is lacking. The objectives of this study were to assess TT frequency in very elderly patients and to study the link between extrapulmonary TT and ventilatory defects. Individuals (≥75 years) residing in elderly care centres answered a standardised questionnaire, underwent spirometry, atopy and fractional exhaled nitric oxide assessments and had their blood pressure and peripheral pulse oximetry measured.

The impact of indoor air quality on respiratory health of older people living in nursing homes: spirometric and exhaled breath condensate assessments.

In the Portuguese Geriatric Study of the Health Effects of Indoor Air Quality in Senior Nursing Homes, we aimed to evaluate the impact of indoor air contaminants on the respiratory symptoms and biomarkers in a sample of elderly living in nursing homes. A total of 269 elderly answered a health questionnaire, performed a spirometry and 150 out of these collected an exhaled breath condensate sample for pH and nitrites analysis. The study included the evaluation of indoor chemical and microbiological contaminants.

Respiratory infections in elderly people: Viral role in a resident population of elderly care centers in Lisbon, winter 2013-2014.

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze the etiology and clinical consequences of viral respiratory infections in 18 elderly care centers (ECC) in Lisbon, which housed a total of 1022 residents.

Methods: Nasopharyngeal swabs were collected whenever an elderly had symptoms of acute respiratory infections (ARI). PCR and RT-PCR were performed for influenza A/B, human parainfluenza virus 1-4, adenovirus, human metapneumovirus (HMPV), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), rhinovirus, enterovirus, human coronavirus and human Bocavirus (HBoV).

Reference values for spirometry in elderly individuals: a cross-sectional study of different reference equations.

Background: Spirometry is the single most important test for the evaluation of respiratory function. The results are interpreted by comparing measured data with predicted values previously obtained from a reference population. Reference equations for spirometry have been discussed previously.

The Influence of Thermal Comfort on the Quality of Life of Nursing Home Residents.

Thermal comfort (TC) parameters were measured in 130 rooms from nursing homes (NH), following ISO 7730:2005 in order to evaluate the influence of winter season TC indices on quality of life (QoL) in older individuals. Mean radiant temperature (mrT), predicted mean vote (PMV) and predicted percent of dissatisfied people (PPD) indices, and the respective measurement uncertainties were calculated using Monte Carlo Method. The WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire was conducted from September 2012 to April 2013, during the winter season TC sampling campaign.

Chronic respiratory diseases and quality of life in elderly nursing home residents.

Few studies have assessed the quality of life (QOL) related to chronic respiratory diseases in the elderly. In the framework of the geriatric study on the health effects of air quality in elderly care centers (GERIA) study, a questionnaire was completed by elderly subjects from 53 selected nursing homes. It included various sections in order to assess respiratory complaints, QOL (World Health Organization QOL (WHOQOL)-BREF), and the cognitive and depression status.

The impact of indoor air quality and contaminants on respiratory health of older people living in long-term care residences in Porto.

Background: persons who are 65 years or older often spend an important part of their lives indoors thus adverse indoor climate might influence their health status.

Objective: to evaluate the influence of indoor air quality and contaminants on older people's respiratory health.

Design: cross-sectional study.