Patients with asthma-chronic obstructive pulmonary disease overlap (ACO) were found to experience a higher burden of disease, compared to patients with either asthma or COPD alone, reported a new study published in Respirology.

In the cross-sectional, observational study, patients aged 18 years and older with a confirmed diagnosis of COPD only (153), severe asthma only (64), or ACO (106), were enroled. Eosinophilic airway disease was observed in 41% of the patients - 55%, 44%, and 29% for those with ACO, severe asthma, and COPD, respectively. It was noted that patients with eosinophilic ACO had significantly more past-year exacerbations, particularly those that needed oral corticosteroids, compared with patients with asthma alone… (Medscape)