TY - JOUR T1 - Concern of underdiagnosing asthma–COPD overlap syndrome if age limit of 40 years for asthma is used JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J DO - 10.1183/13993003.00871-2017 VL - 50 IS - 2 SP - 1700871 AU - Minna Tommola AU - Pinja Ilmarinen AU - Leena E. Tuomisto AU - Hannu Kankaanranta Y1 - 2017/08/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/50/2/1700871.abstract N2 - In a recent issue of the European Respiratory Journal, Sin et al. [1] presented recommendations on the definition of asthma–chronic obstructive pulmonary disease overlap syndrome (ACOS). The presented conclusions, based on a round table discussion, are very important and notable, especially considering the current lack of specific clinical criteria for ACOS. One of the key recommendations is that asthma or atopy should be diagnosed before age of 40 years (or patients should have very large airway reversibility) in order to fulfil the criteria of ACOS. However, the scientific basis of using the 40-year cut-off remains debatable. In addition, the proposal raises a major concern of underdiagnosing adult-onset asthma and ACOS if the suggested age limit is used.The suggested asthma-onset age limit of 40 as a criterion for ACOS may lead to severe underdiagnosis of ACOS http://ow.ly/rVSk30ckrOqWe thank senior statistical analyser Timo Partio from the Social Insurance Institution of Finland for providing the data. ER -