[Fibrophysematous lung changes and microbiota changes in senile persons.]

Abstract

Research on the condition of the lungs in senile people is an urgent task. This is due to the fact that degenerative or age-associated changes in the respiratory system play an important role in the formation of senile asthenia syndrome and a decrease in the age-related viability of the body as a whole. CT-scans of patients aged 80-90 years were analyzed (n=31). Age-associated changes were evaluated: the presence of linear fibrosis, increased pulmonary pattern by the type of reticular (reticular) changes, the presence of gross fibrous reticular changes with cystic cavities and air bullae (by the type of «cellular lung»), as well as the presence of pulmonary emphysema. Most naturally, senile people show changes characteristic of linear pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema. The progression of the process leads to diffuse reticular changes in the interalveolar and intersegmental septa and, in adverse cases, to the formation of gross changes in the type of «cellular lung». Fibro-emphysematous changes are significantly more common in men. A microbiological study of the microbiota of the lower respiratory tract in elderly people was also carried out (n=16). When studying the microbiocenosis of the lower respiratory tract in elderly people, the following data were obtained: resident microflora was found in 71% and clinically significant microorganisms were found in 29%.