Premium
Characteristics of Specialist‐Diagnosed Asthma‐COPD Overlap in Severe Asthma: Observations from the Korean Severe Asthma Registry (KoSAR)
Author(s) -
Lee Hyun,
Kim SangHeon,
Kim ByungKeun,
Lee Youngsoo,
Lee Hwa Young,
Ban GaYoung,
Kim MinHye,
Kim JooHee,
Kwon JaeWoo,
Park SoYoung,
Jung JaeWoo,
Park So Young,
Park Chan Sun,
Rhee Chin Kook,
Lee Taehoon,
Lee JaeHyun,
Kim So Ri,
Park JongSook,
Park HeungWoo,
Yoo Kwang Ha,
Oh YeonMok,
Koh YoungIl,
Lee ByungJae,
Jang AnSoo,
Cho SangHeon,
Park HaeSim,
Park ChoonSik,
Cho You Sook,
Yoon Ho Joo
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
allergy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.363
H-Index - 173
eISSN - 1398-9995
pISSN - 0105-4538
DOI - 10.1111/all.14483
Subject(s) - medicine , asthma , copd , exacerbation , eosinophil , corticosteroid
Background While the clinical characteristics and outcomes of asthma‐chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) overlap (ACO) have been frequently compared with those of COPD or asthma, the prevalence and features of ACO in patients with severe asthma are unclear. Objectives Evaluation of the prevalence and clinical features of ACO using the Korean severe asthma registry. Methods At the time of registration, ACO was determined in patients with severe asthma by attending specialists. Patients were classified into ACO and non‐ACO groups, and the demographic and clinical characteristics of these two groups were compared. Results Of 482 patients with severe asthma, 23.7% had ACO. Patients in the ACO group were more likely to be male ( P < .001), older ( P < .001), and ex‐ or current smokers ( P < .001) compared with those in the non‐ACO group. Patients in the ACO group had lower mean forced expiratory volume in 1 second ( P < .001) and blood eosinophil percentage ( P = .006), but higher blood neutrophil percentage ( P = .027) than those in the non‐ACO group. The ACO group used more inhaled long‐acting muscarinic antagonist ( P < .001), methylxanthine ( P = .001), or sustained systemic corticosteroid ( P = .002). In addition, unscheduled emergency department visits due to exacerbation were more frequent in the ACO group ( P = .006). Conclusion Among patients with severe asthma, those with ACO were older, predominantly male, and were more likely to have a smoking history than those with asthma only. Patients with ACO used more systemic corticosteroid and had more frequent exacerbations related to emergency department visits than those with severe asthma only.