In their most typical forms, asthma and chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease (COPD) are clearly distinguishable, but
many patients with chronic airflow limitation demonstrate
features of both conditions and have worse health outcomes
than those with either disease alone. This has been called the
asthma–chronic obstructive pulmonary disease overlap
syndrome (ACOS), but as yet, it lacks a precise definition.
However, given the different pathways by which a patient can
come to demonstrate features of both asthma and COPD, ACOS
is not thought to represent a single disease but to include several
heterogeneous phenotypes with different underlying
mechanisms. These issues have important implications for
guidelines because some existing treatment recommendations
for asthma and COPD are in conflict, and patients with both
asthma and COPD have specifically been excluded from major
pharmacologic trials. As a result, there is little evidence at
present to support specific treatment recommendations for
ACOS on the basis of efficacy or effectiveness, yet these patients
continue to present for diagnosis and management, mainly in
primary care. This article highlights the need for clinical
guidance about ACOS, summarizes recommendations about its
diagnosis and treatment from a sample of national asthma and
COPD guidelines, and proposes a way forward, as suggested in a
collaborative Global Initiative for Asthma/Global Initiative for
Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease report, to provide health
professionals with interim recommendations about syndromic
recognition and initial treatment based on both potential
effectiveness and potential risk. Additional research in broad
populations is urgently needed to develop a precise definition
for ACOS, characterize its phenotypes, and identify
opportunities for targeted treatment. (J Allergy Clin Immunol
2015;136:546-52.)
In their most typical forms, asthma and chronic obstructivepulmonary disease (COPD) are clearly distinguishable, butmany patients with chronic airflow limitation demonstratefeatures of both conditions and have worse health outcomesthan those with either disease alone. This has been called theasthma–chronic obstructive pulmonary disease overlapsyndrome (ACOS), but as yet, it lacks a precise definition.However, given the different pathways by which a patient cancome to demonstrate features of both asthma and COPD, ACOSis not thought to represent a single disease but to include severalheterogeneous phenotypes with different underlyingmechanisms. These issues have important implications forguidelines because some existing treatment recommendationsfor asthma and COPD are in conflict, and patients with bothasthma and COPD have specifically been excluded from majorpharmacologic trials. As a result, there is little evidence atpresent to support specific treatment recommendations forACOS on the basis of efficacy or effectiveness, yet these patientscontinue to present for diagnosis and management, mainly inprimary care. This article highlights the need for clinicalguidance about ACOS, summarizes recommendations about itsdiagnosis and treatment from a sample of national asthma andCOPD guidelines, and proposes a way forward, as suggested in acollaborative Global Initiative for Asthma/Global Initiative forChronic Obstructive Lung Disease report, to provide healthprofessionals with interim recommendations about syndromicrecognition and initial treatment based on both potentialeffectiveness and potential risk. Additional research in broadpopulations is urgently needed to develop a precise definitionfor ACOS, characterize its phenotypes, and identifyopportunities for targeted treatment. (J Allergy Clin Immunol2015;136:546-52.)
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