Managing the overlap of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Approximately 20% of patients with obstructive lung disease have features of both asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. These patients have a higher burden of disease and increased exacerbations compared to those with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease alone. Management should address dominant clinical features in each individual patient, and comorbidities should be considered. There are several interventions that are useful in the management of both asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. As inhaled corticosteroids are key to the management of asthma, they are recommended in patients with overlapping chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.