RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 The asthma-COPD, overlap syndrome, our clinical experience
JF European Respiratory Journal
JO Eur Respir J
FD European Respiratory Society
SP P1769
VO 44
IS Suppl 58
A1 Dhimitraq Argjiri
A1 Edlira Ndreu
A1 Olvis Petre
A1 Eugerta Dilka
A1 Ilir Peposhi
A1 Fadil Gradica
A1 Perlat Kapisyzi
YR 2014
UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/44/Suppl_58/P1769.abstract
AB Introduction: In clinical practice, separating asthma from COPD is difficult due to the overlapping features common to both diseases. Patients with ACOS experience acute exacerbations with higher frequency and greater severity than alone COPD. The best available therapy requires first to identify the relevant clinical phenotype.Objective: The aim of this study was to recognize these clinical entity, its characteristic and drug interventions in our daily practice.Material and patients: The study included 118 patients over 40 years, with symptomatic obstructive airway diseases. ACOS was defined as: Asthma with partially reversible airflow obstruction, with or without emphysema, or COPD with emphysema accompanied by reversible or partially reversible airflow obstruction.Results: According to criteria used 23 (19.4%) patients fit ACOS definition. Of them 10 (21.8%) in asthma group and 13 (18.0%) in COPD group [p=0.83]. Patients with COPD tend to be older than ACOS (mean age: 63±7yrs and 58±6yrs, respectively) [p=0.0034], but no differences is seen among ACOS and Asthma groups (58±6yrs and 57±5yrs respectively, p=0.049). About 2/3 (62.4%) patients with ACOS experience ≥3 acute exacerbations/yr, comparing to 40.7% in COPD (p=0.033). Most of patients 11(48%) had serum FeNO level < 25 ppm and only 4 (17%) of them had serum FeNO level between 25-50 ppm.Conclusions: In this study we concluded that about 1: 5 of elder people have overlapping features of asthma and COPD. Those patients have similar age with Asthma, but are younger and experience acute exacerbations (≥3) with higher frequency than COPD.Key words: chronic obstructive airway diseases, Asthma, COPD, ACOS, patients.