"Study Reports Asthma Control in Older Patients and Shows Lower ED Visits"
Mount Sinai was part of the largest clinical trial for asthma self-management support in older patients, which resulted in improved control and quality of life, and fewer emergency department visits. Asthma affects seven percent of Americans older than 65 and causes more symptoms and hospitalizations in this age group that in younger patients with asthma. While experts have called for interventions specifically targeting this population, few relevant studies have been reported. Mount Sinai and other institutions tested the effect of a comprehensive, patient-tailored asthma self-management support intervention for older adults on clinical and self-management outcomes. Alex Federman, MD, MPH, professor of medicine, general internal medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, said “Health systems, insurers, and policymakers are increasingly recognizing the powerful influence of social factors on health and outcomes of health like hospitalizations and health care spending. By screening patients for barriers to controlling their asthma and addressing the barriers that were identified, the new program helped these older adults take their medications regularly, improve their control of asthma, and reduce their visits to emergency departments by more than 50 percent."
— Alex Federman, MD, MPH, Professor, Medicine, General Internal Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai