There are new insights into the use of biologic therapies for the treatment of severe asthma in older adults. The recent German study, “Characteristics of Older Individuals with Asthma Being Treated with Biologics,” examined the rising asthma diagnosis rate in an aging, global population and the complexities of treating the condition in this demographic. The retrospective study was published in the Journal of Asthma and Allergy.
Conducted at University Hospital Aachen and University Hospital Bonn, researchers analyzed data from 88 patients aged 50 years and older who were treated with biologic therapies for severe asthma between 2014 and 2023. The findings reveal a complex clinical picture marked by high rates of comorbidities, polypharmacy and impaired lung function, especially among those aged 60 and older.
Key findings from the study include:
- High comorbidity rates: Nearly 70% of participants had multiple chronic conditions, with cardiovascular disease being significantly more common in those aged 60 and older.
- Smoking history: Almost half of the patients were current or former smokers, and 27% had coexisting chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- Biologic use and response: Despite the health complexities, the study found no significant difference in lung function improvement after six months of biologic therapy between the 50–59 and 60-plus year age groups.
- Self-administration challenges: Older patients were less likely to self-administer biologic injections, highlighting a potential barrier to home-based treatment models.
- Polypharmacy concerns: On average, patients were taking nearly four, nonasthma-related medications, raising concerns about drug interactions and treatment adherence.
According to the study’s authors, the clinical implication of the research underscores the need for tailored asthma management strategies in older adults. Although biologics appear to be effective regardless of age, the presence of multiple health conditions and the reduced ability to self-administer treatment suggest that older patients may require more comprehensive care coordination.
As biologic therapies become more widely used in respiratory medicine, the study’s authors called for additional research into age-related differences in treatment response, especially considering the study’s promising results in patients with COPD. They also encouraged future innovations in home-based care and better integration of comorbidity management into asthma treatment plans.
