10%-20% of patients with asthma have features of the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Individuals with asthma–chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) overlap syndrome (ACOS), have a more rapid decline in lung function, more frequent exacerbations, and poorer quality of life than those with asthma or COPD alone. Air pollution exposure is a known risk factor for asthma and COPD; however, its role in ACOS is not as well understood. ACOS is a newly recognized diagnosis gaining attention due to the significant morbidities associated with the disease.
Understanding the effects of modifiable risk factors, such as air pollution, has the potential to decrease morbidity and mortality associated with ACOS. Many factors predispose a patient with asthma to developing the clinical features of COPD. According to a new study published in the American Journal of Respiratory and…
