Management of the Asthma-COPD Overlap Syndrome (ACOS): a Review of the Evidence

Abstract

Purpose of Review

Examine the definition of the asthma-COPD overlap syndrome (ACOS) and current treatment strategies.

Recent Findings

Patients with the ACOS have a lower quality of life and suffer from more complications than those affected by either disease alone. Diagnosis of ACOS is difficult because of the clinical similarities between the two diseases and the various phenotypes that comprise the syndrome. Defining treatment strategies for ACOS has been challenging because many clinical trials for asthma therapy have purposefully excluded patients with features of COPD, and COPD clinical trials have not included patients who might have an asthmatic component to their disease. Therefore, there are few randomized treatment trials which have included patients who have ACOS.

Summary

Smoking cessation and appropriate vaccinations are cornerstone therapies, and pharmacologic therapy has focused on bronchodilators and inhaled corticosteroids. The role of biologics, such as omalizumab and IL-5 antagonists, in ACOS treatment is still being defined. As of now, with the paucity of randomized control trials guiding treatment strategies, the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) and Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) guidelines recommend treating ACOS according to the dominant phenotype.

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