Asthma sufferers 30 and older may be particularly prone to treatment failure

A recent study indicates that asthma treatment failures may be especially common among asthma sufferers at least 30 years of age.

In the study, researchers looked at the occurrence of treatment failures within a group of 1,200 individuals with mild-to-moderate asthma, and compared the treatment failure rate of the asthma sufferers who were under thirty with the rate for the asthma sufferers who were 30 or older.

The study found that the rate was much higher among those 30 and older. The percentage of individuals who experienced a treatment failure was 17 percent among the asthma sufferers who were a least 30, whereas it was only 10 percent among the asthma sufferers under 30.

One asthma treatment type for which asthma sufferers 30 and older showed an especially higher failure rate than asthma sufferers under 30 was inhaled corticosteroids.

Why do you think treatment failure rates are higher among asthma sufferers who are 30 or older?

Treatment failure can be very impactful on individuals with asthma who are 30 years of age or older. When the treatments such an individual is receiving are not effectively addressing their asthma and its symptoms, it could leave the person facing a greater degree of reductions in functional capabilities. This, in turn, could increase the chances that a person's asthma will interfere with important things in their life, such as their ability to work.

Asthma can in some instances cause a person to no longer be able to work. Asthma sufferers in such a situation may be able to qualify for Social Security disability benefits, depending on their specific circumstances.