高齢者呼吸器疾患の温泉療法

肺のHRCT上のLAA (low attenuation area) による評価

抄録

Spa therapy which has been performed for patients with respiratory disease, particularly for those with asthma and pulmonary emphysema for last 22 years, demonstrates that spa therapy is effective for asthma and pulmonary emphysema. The characteristics of patients with respiratory disease has been changing during last 22 years.
The frequency and number of elderly patients with asthma, and the number of those with pulmonary emphysema has been increasing in recent years. Elderly patients with asthma and COPD including pulmonary emphysema show the narrowing of airways by mucus, and hyperinflation of the lungs as results of aging. At present time any physicians have no medication improving hyperinflation of the lungs. In the present study, evaluation of hyperinflation of the lungs by a band display procedure on HRCT and the effects of spa therapy on the hyperinflation were discussed in patients with asthma and COPD. The results show that spa therapy is important for the treatment of elderly patients with asthma and COPD, because the therapy can improve hyperinflation of the lungs without adverse side effects.