Asthma in the Elderly

Table 1

Classification of asthma severity by clinical features [13].

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Intermittent

 Symptoms less than once a week

 Brief exacerbations

 Nocturnal symptoms not more than twice a month

 FEV1 or PEF > 80% predicted

 PEF or FEV1 variability < 20%

Mild Persistent

 Symptoms more than once a week but less than once a day

 Exacerbations may affect activity and sleep

 Nocturnal symptoms more than twice a month

 FEV1 or PEF > 80% predicted

 PEF or FEV1 variability < 20%–30%

Moderate Persistent

 Symptoms daily

 Exacerbations may affect activity and sleep

 Nocturnal symptoms more than once a week

 FEV1 or PEF 60%–80% predicted

 PEF or FEV1 variability > 30%

Severe Persistent

 Symptoms daily

 Frequent exacerbations

 Frequent nocturnal asthma symptoms

 FEV1 or PEF < 60% predicted

 PEF or FEV1 variability > 30%

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