Asthma COPD overlap: a case study

Abstract

Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are common respiratory diseases that account for a significant number of primary care consultations. The classical clinical features of asthma and COPD can be clearly differentiated. However, many patients have contemporaneous features of asthma and COPD, and it is estimated that a significant proportion of these patients have asthma-COPD overlap (ACO). This article provides an overview of the diagnostic process and clinical management, both pharmacological and non-pharmacological, of a 58-year-old male presenting at his GP practice with ACO.