Epidemiology and outcomes of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis in the elderly

Background The prevalence and outcomes of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) in the elderly remain unknown. Methods We reviewed our database to identify the proportion of subjects diagnosed with ABPA at >= 60 years of age (ABPA-elderly). We compared the clinical features, treatment and outcomes of ABPA-elderly versus the non-elderly (ABPA diagnosed at <60 years of age). Results Between 2007 and 2019, we encountered 810 ABPA subjects with a mean age of 34.9 years (49.4% women). Of these, 43 (5.3%) were aged >= 60 years (ABPA-elderly). There was a trend towards lower median (interquartile range [IQR]) serum total IgE (4900 [2659-10000] vs. 7156 [23360-11963] IU/mL; P = .06) and Aspergillus fumigatus-specific IgE (12.3 [4.8-29.6] vs. 22.4 [7.7-41.5] kUA/L; P = .06) in the elderly than the non-elderly. Eosinophil counts were similar in the two groups. The median [IQR] number of segments involved by bronchiectasis (5 [2-9] vs. 7 [4-11]) was significantly lower in the ABPA-elderly (P = .001). The proportion of subjects experiencing ABPA exacerbations was significantly (P = .047) lower in the elderly (25.6%) vs. the non-elderly (40.8%). There was also a tendency towards a lower mean number of exacerbations in the elderly (155 vs. 208 exacerbation per 1000 person-years) than the non-elderly (P = .09). There was also a trend towards longer mean time to first exacerbation in the ABPA-elderly than the non-elderly (1612 vs. 1159 days). Conclusion ABPA was uncommon in the elderly. The bronchiectasis is less extensive with a trend towards lower immunological severity and fewer exacerbations in the elderly than the non-elderly subjects with ABPA.

Automated summary

The study found that elderly patients with ABPA have lower immunological severity, less extensive bronchiectasis, and fewer exacerbations compared to non-elderly subjects.