Aging lungs

Acute and chronic lung diseases disproportionately affect older people with significant mortality and morbidity from limiting dyspnoea, immobilisation and isolation. Respiratory infections are a leading cause of death from any infectious aetiology among older people with upwards of 80% of deaths from pneumonia occurring in the elderly. Pneumonia consistently ranks 2nd as a cause of death after ischaemic heart disease in Malaysia. We anticipate much more acute and chronic lung diseases with greater severity with an ageing population. Hence it is worthwhile revisiting the changes that occur in an ageing lung to better understand and manage pulmonary conditions in the elderly with an emphasis on infections/pneumonia.