Expert consensus on management of chronic mucus hypersecretion in elderly patients
Geriatric Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine Branch,China Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics
FANG Xiangqun
Abstract：Chronic mucus hypersecretion(CMH)is a significant pathophysiological feature of elderly respiratory chronic diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,bronchial asthma,and bronchiectasis,severely impacting patients'quality of life and prognosis.Currently,there is still a lack of unified guidance for the systematic management of CMH in elderly patients.Therefore,the Geriatric Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine Branch of the China Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics organized experts in related fields to develop this consensus,systematically elaborating on the pathogenesis,clinical assessment methods,pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment strategies for CMH in the elderly.The consensus covers assessment tools such as the Cough and Sputum Assessment Questionnaire(CASAQ)and Peak Cough Flow(PCF),as well as the rational use of medications including expectorants,mucoregulators,mucokinetics,and mucolytics.It also details non-pharmacological interventions such as chest physiotherapy,airway humidification and nebulization therapy,and mechanical airway clearance techniques.This consensus puts forward six recommendations,aiming to provide clinicians with standardized and actionable guidance for the management of CMH in elderly patients,thereby improving the overall treatment level of elderly respiratory chronic diseases and patients'quality of life.
Keywords：elderly patientschronic mucus hypersecretionassessmentpharmacological therapynon-pharmacological therapyexpert consensus
Publication Date：2026-02-28
Online Publishing Date：2026-03-19(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：12( 97-108 )