title: Asthma-Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Overlap Syndrome: Nothing New Under the Sun.
abstract: The debate about whether asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are distinct clinical syndromes is not new; there is heightened interest in understanding the group of individuals with obstructive lung disease who seem to have elements of both conditions because recent studies have demonstrated increased risk for respiratory events and exacerbations. We describe the clinical characteristics of this subtype of disease and suggest 4 working definitions of individuals who would fall into the asthma-COPD overlap category. Understanding the mechanisms underlying these subtypes will hopefully lead into a better understanding of therapeutic strategies that can target specific pathobiologic pathways.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 5501 Hopkins Bayview Circle, JHAAC 4B.74, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA. Electronic address: Nputcha1@jhmi.edu.
authors.forename: Nirupama
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Putcha
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 5501 Hopkins Bayview Circle, JHAAC 4B.74, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA.
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Wise
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D032921:Consensus; D003245:Consensus Statements as Topic; D006801:Humans; D010641:Phenotype; D015995:Prevalence; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013577:Syndrome
keywords: ACOS; Asthma; COPD; Overlap; Subtypes