14. Comorbidity: a distinctive feature of elderly respiratory patients 205 B.G. Cosío, A. Agustí 15. Nonrespiratory determinants of respiratory impairment in elderly 217 patients: heart failure and diabetes M. Guazzi, L. Fuso 16. New modalities of nutritional aspects of pulmonary disease in the elderly 240 E.P.A. Rutten, E.F.M. Wouters 17. Practical aspects of inhaler therapy in frail elderly patients 256 S.C. Allen 18. Are current treatment recommendations suited to elderly patients with 267 asthma or COPD? P. Ernst, M. Wilchesky, S. Suissa 19. Noninvasive ventilation: a remedy for geriatric patients 286 J-F. Muir, D. Benhamou, C. Molano, A. Cuvelier 20. Lung cancer: does age affect treatment strategy? 306 M. Spatafora, P. Maione, F. Perrone, C. Gridelli 21. Palliative and end-of-life care for patients with respiratory disease 327 D.M.G. Halpin, D.A. Seamark, C.J. Seamark Statements of interest 354 Contents MON 43.qxd 24/03/2009 14:09 Page 2