Asthma-Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Overlap: The Role for Allergy

Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are 2 distinct diseases with different clinical presentations. Chronic inflammation and airway obstruction are key features of asthma and COPD. Increased morbidity and mortality rates seem to be an important characteristic associated with asthma-COPD overlap (ACO).Atopy is an important clinical characteristic of patients categorized as ACO. Herein, the authors review the recent advancements in basic research, clinical assessment, and defining characteristics of ACO and the role for allergy as well as highlight future potential for disease-specific therapeutics for this asthma subtype.