Asthma-COPD Overlap Implications for Patient Management

Asthma-COPD Overlap Implications for Patient Management

Asthma-COPD overlap (ACO) is characterised by persistent airflow limitation with features typically associated with both asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Clinical features and underlying inflammatory and physiological mechanisms of asthma and COPD are highly variable and affect the utility of the ACO umbrella in clinical practice. This heterogeneity limits both high-quality research on the subject and treatment recommendations specific to ACO. An approach to treating chronic airways disease that targets identifiable clinical traits rather than the disease label is increasingly recommended.

Modern Medicine – Issue 4 2024