title: [Differences and similarities in the evaluation and diagnostic workup].
abstract: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma share common clinical characteristics such as cough and dyspnea. Therefore both diseases are sometimes difficult to distinguish clinically but extended medical history and diagnostic tests usually allow their differentiation. This is important because the therapeutic approach differs between the two diseases. In many cases spirometric testing including bronchodilatation is useful to differentiate between COPD and Asthma and can also be performed by the general practitioner. Apart from spirometry, additional diagnostic tests are presented that facilitate differentiation between COPD and Asthma.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Pneumologie, Universitätsspital Zürich.
authors.forename: Christian F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Clarenbach
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Pneumologie, Universitätsspital Zürich.
authors.forename: Malcolm
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kohler
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D010366:Peak Expiratory Flow Rate / Q000502:physiology; D010993:Plethysmography, Whole Body; D011379:Prognosis; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D012130:Respiratory Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D013147:Spirometry; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014797:Vital Capacity / Q000502:physiology