What pulmonologists think about the asthma-COPD overlap syndrome

Hsa-Mir-320c, Hsa-Mir-200c-3p, and Hsa-Mir-449c-5p as Potential Specific miRNA Biomarkers of COPD: A Pilot Study

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic inflammatory disease commonly induced by cigarette smoke. The expression of miRNAs can be altered in patients with COPD and could be used as a biomarker. We aimed to identify a panel of miRNAs in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) to differentiate COPD patients from smokers and non-smokers with normal lung function. Accordingly, forty-five subjects classified as COPD, smokers, and non-smokers (n = 15 per group) underwent clinical, functional characterization and bronchoscopy with BAL. The mean age of the studied population was 61.61 ± 12.95 years, BMI 25.72 ± 3.82 Kg/m², FEV1/FVC 68.37 ± 12.00%, and FEV1 80.07 ± 23.63% predicted. According to microarray analysis, three miRNAs of the most upregulated were chosen: miR-320c, miR-200c-3p, and miR-449c-5p. These miRNAs were validated by qPCR and were shown to be differently expressed in COPD patients. ROC analysis showed that these three miRNAs together had an area under the curve of 0.89 in differentiating COPD from controls. Moreover, in silico analysis of candidate miRNAs by DIANA-miRPath showed potential involvement in the EGFR and Hippo pathways. These results suggest a specific 3-miRNA signature that could be potentially used as a biomarker to distinguish COPD patients from smokers and non-smoker subjects.

[Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: the right treatment for the right patient]

In den vergangenen Jahren wurden auf dem Gebiet der chronisch-obstruktiven Lungenerkrankung (COPD) große Therapiestudien publiziert, die 2020 um mehrere Post-hoc-Analysen ergänzt wurden. Die neuen Erkenntnisse flossen in das Update des Global-Initiative-for-Chronic-Obstructive-Lung-Disease(GOLD)-Report 2021 ein. Im vorliegenden Beitrag werden die aktualisierten Grundlagen und Empfehlungen zur Therapie der COPD beschrieben. Dabei wird auf die Indikationen von inhalativen Kortikosteroiden (ICS), lang wirksamen Muskarinantagonisten (LAMA) und/oder lang wirksamen β‑Mimetika (LABA) eingegangen. Die Therapie der COPD wird der des Asthma bronchiale gegenübergestellt. Diskutiert wird auch, wie sich eine gleichzeitig bestehende Asthmakomponente auf die Behandlungsstrategie bei COPD auswirkt. Ein Schwerpunkt des Beitrags liegt auf der Triple-Therapie mit LAMA, LABA und ICS. In diesem Zusammenhang werden die Studienlage und die Indikationen beschrieben. Die Bronchodilatation bleibt weiterhin die Grundlage der COPD-Therapie. Für Patienten mit gehäuften Exazerbationen bedeutet eine Triple-Therapie mit LAMA + LABA + ICS einen Mortalitätsvorteil. Weitere Analysen oder Studien sollen klären, ob dieser Effekt für spezifische Subgruppen stärker ausgeprägt ist.

Prospective development of practical screening strategies for diagnosis of asthma-COPD overlap

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

ACO is a syndrome with high prevalence. However, a pragmatic diagnostic criterion to differentiate ACO is non-existent. We aimed to establish an effective model for screening ACO.

METHODS

A multicentre survey was developed to assess the clinical criteria considered important and applicable by pulmonologists for screening ACO. These experts were asked to take the surveys twice. The expert grading method, analytic hierarchy process and ROC curve were used to establish the model, which was then validated by a cross-sectional study of 1066 patients. The GINA/GOLD document was the gold standard in assessing this model.

RESULTS

Increased variability of symptoms, paroxysmal wheezing, dyspnoea, historical diagnosis of COPD or asthma, allergic constitution, exposure to risk factors, the FEV₁ /FVC < 70% and a positive BDT were important for screening ACO. According to the weight of each criterion, we confirmed that patients meeting six or more of these eight criteria should be considered to have ACO. We called this Chinese screening model for ACO 'CSMA'. It differentiated patients with ACO with a sensitivity of 83.33%, while the sensitivity of clinician-driven diagnosis had a sensitivity of only 42.73%.

CONCLUSION

CSMA is a workable model for screening ACO and provides a simple tool for clinicians to efficiently diagnose ACO.

Diagnosis and management of asthma, COPD and asthma-COPD overlap among primary care physicians and respiratory/allergy specialists: A global survey

INTRODUCTION

Asthma-chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) overlap (ACO) is a heterogenous condition with clinical features shared by both asthma and COPD.

OBJECTIVES

This online global survey of respiratory/allergy specialists and primary care practitioners (PCPs) was performed to understand current clinical approaches to the differential diagnosis and management of asthma, COPD and ACO.

METHODS

Respondents were recruited through: (a) a global online physician respondent community (49,980 PCPs and 7205 specialists); (b) market research agents; (c) experts; (d) professional societies; (e) colleague invitation. Respondents were presented with a survey including hypothetical clinical scenarios of diagnostic uncertainty to identify management approaches.

RESULTS

891 responses (447 PCPs and 444 specialists) were collected across 13 countries. Reported features used for diagnosis of asthma and COPD were consistent with practice guidelines, but there was variability in those selected for ACO diagnosis. Features typically selected by specialists focused on spirometry/history, while PCPs focused on previous treatment/symptoms. Most respondents could correctly diagnose patients with features of ACO; however, features selected for theoretical diagnosis were often different to those selected in the case scenarios. Additionally, treatment selection was often inconsistent with guidelines, with over half of respondents not recommending inhaled corticosteroids in a patient with ACO and dominant features of asthma.

CONCLUSION

While most PCPs and respiratory/allergy specialists can reach a working diagnosis of ACO, there remains uncertainty around which diagnostic features are most important and what constitutes optimal management. It is imperative that clinical studies including patients with ACO are initiated, allowing the generation of evidence-based management strategies.

Value of Exhaled Nitric Oxide (FeNO) And Eosinophilia During the Exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Requiring Hospital Admission

The aim of this study was to analyze whether FeNO levels in acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD) with hospital admission have better diagnostic value than eosinophilia in blood, and to evaluate its usefulness in predicting a better clinical response. An observational prospective study of patients with AECOPD was carried out. FeNO determinations were made on arrival at the emergency room (ER), at discharge and during stability 3-6 months after discharge. Co-morbidities, bronchodilators, inhaled (IGC) and systemic (SGC) glucocorticoids, eosinophils, systemic inflammation markers (procalcitonin, C-reactive protein), eosinophil cationic protein, and total IgE were collected. Fifty consecutive patients (92% men, mean age 75 ± 6 years) were included in this study. Phenotypes were 26% Asthma-COPD Overlap Syndrome (ACOS), 42% chronic bronchitis (CB) and 32% emphysema. ACOS patients showed significantly higher levels of FeNO (73 ppb) and eosinophils (508 cells/mm³) than the rest (CB: 23 ppb, 184 cells/mm³, emphysema: 27 ppb, 159 cells/mm³; p < 0.05). A significant correlation between FeNO levels measured in ER and eosinophils was observed (r = 0.7; p < 0.001), but not at discharge or in stable phase. No significant association was found with parameters of systemic inflammation and mean stay. In conclusion, the determination of FeNO in AECOPD does not offer advantages over the evaluation of eosinophilia. These parameters rise at arrival in ER, descend at discharge, and remain unchanged in the stable phase. Both present similar diagnostic utility and are able to better identify the ACOS phenotype, which helps select a population that could benefit from a glucocorticoids therapy.

Perceptions of Severe Asthma and Asthma-COPD Overlap Syndrome Among Specialists: A Questionnaire Survey

Purpose

Severe asthma and asthma-chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) overlap syndrome (ACOS) are difficult to control and are often associated with poor clinical outcomes. However, much is not understood regarding the diagnosis and treatment of severe asthma and ACOS. To evaluate the current perceptions of severe asthma and COPD among asthma and COPD specialists, we designed an e-mail and internet-based questionnaire survey.

Methods

Subjects were selected based on clinical specialty from among the members of the Korean Academy of Asthma, Allergy and Clinical Immunology and the Korean Academy of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases. Of 432 subjects who received an e-mail invitation to the survey, 95 subjects, including 58 allergists and 37 pulmonologists, responded and submitted their answers online.

Results

The specialists estimated that the percentage of severe cases among total asthma patients in their practice was 13.9%±11.0%. Asthma aggravation by stepping down treatment was the most common subtype, followed by frequent exacerbation, uncontrolled asthma despite higher treatment steps, and serious exacerbation. ACOS was estimated to account for 20.7% of asthma, 38.0% of severe asthma, and 30.1% of COPD cases. A history of smoking, persistently low forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), and low FEV1 variation were most frequently classified as the major criteria for the diagnosis of ACOS among asthma patients. Among COPD patients, the highly selected major criteria for ACOS were high FEV1 variation, positive bronchodilator response, a personal history of allergies and positive airway hyperresponsiveness. Allergists and pulmonologists showed different assessments and opinions on asthma phenotyping, percentage, and diagnostic criteria for ACOS.

Conclusions

Specialists had diverse perceptions and clinical practices regarding severe asthma and ACOS patients. This heterogeneity must be considered in future studies and strategy development for severe asthma and ACOS.

Characterization of Asthma-Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Overlap Syndrome: A Qualitative Analysis

Approximately 15-20% of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) also display characteristics of asthma. In May 2014, the asthma-COPD overlap syndrome (ACOS) was briefly addressed in the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) and Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) strategy documents. We evaluated how pulmonologists diagnose and treat ACOS and how they assess its control. Pulmonologists from two university healthcare centers, having ≥ 1 year experience, treating patients with asthma, COPD, or ACOS, were invited to participate in focus groups. Two focus groups (1 hour duration) were convened with seven and five participants, respectively. According to pulmonologists from both institutions, ACOS is a new name for an existing syndrome rather than a new disease. It is characterized by incomplete reversible airflow limitations and changes in forced expiratory volume in one second over time. The pulmonologists noted that its diagnosis must be based on clinical characteristics, pulmonary function test results, and clinical intuition. To diagnose ACOS, pulmonologists must rely on their clinical judgment. They also agreed that the treatment of patients with ACOS should target the features of both asthma and COPD. Pulmonologists from both institutions used asthma control criteria to assess ACOS control. A deeper understanding would enable clinicians to establish specific criteria for the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of subjects with ACOS.

Consensus on the Asthma-COPD Overlap Syndrome (ACOS) Between the Spanish COPD Guidelines (GesEPOC) and the Spanish Guidelines on the Management of Asthma (GEMA)

Following a proposal by the Spanish Society of Pulmonology and Thoracic Surgery (SEPAR), sponsor of the Spanish COPD Guidelines (GesEPOC) and the Spanish Guidelines on the Management of Asthma (GEMA), authors of both papers have unified the criteria for the diagnosis of asthma-COPD overlap syndrome (ACOS). This consensus defines ACOS as the presence in a given patient of three elements: significant smoking exposure, chronic airflow limitation and asthma. Diagnosis is confirmed when a patient (35years of age or older), smoker or ex-smoker of more than 10 pack-years, presents airflow limitation (post-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC<0.7) that persists after treatment with bronchodilators and inhaled corticosteroids (even after systemic corticosteroids in selected cases), and an objective current diagnosis of asthma (according to GEMA criteria). In cases in which the diagnosis of asthma cannot be demonstrated, marked positive results on a bronchodilator test (FEV₁≥15% and ≥400mL) or elevated blood eosinophil count (≥300eosinophils/μL) will also be diagnostic of ACOS. The opinion of another 33 experts who had not participated in the consensus was sought using a modified Delphi survey. Up to 80% of respondents gave a very positive opinion of the consensus, and declared that it was better than other previous proposals. The GesEPOC-GEMA consensus on ACOS provides a unique perspective of the diagnostic problem, using a simple proposal and a pragmatic diagnostic algorithm that can be applied at any healthcare level.

Post-bronchodilator Reversibility of FEV1 and Eosinophilic Airway Inflammation in COPD

INTRODUCTION

The relationship between bronchodilator responsiveness and eosinophilic airway inflammation has not been well documented in COPD. It has been investigated in this retrospective study. This issue has grown in importance due to increasing interest in the asthma-COPD overlap syndrome.

METHODS

264 stable COPD patients with no past history of asthma were retrospectively analyzed. Correlation analyses between FEV₁ reversibility and sputum eosinophil levels were conducted. Sputum eosinophil levels were dichotomized using FEV₁ reversibility cut-off points (>0.4L and >15% vs. >0.2L and >12%) and compared. The effectiveness of FEV₁ reversibility to predict sputum eosinophilia (>3%) was analyzed with a logistic regression and a ROC analysis.

RESULTS

82 (31.1%) patients with higher FEV₁ reversibility values (0.14 vs. 0.11L, P=.01) presented sputum eosinophilia. FEV₁ reversibility was weakly correlated with the sputum eosinophil level (r=0.162, P=.008). Patients with FEV₁>0.4L and >15% increment had higher sputum eosinophil levels (6.11 vs. 1.02%, P=.049) whereas the level did not differ when dichotomized by FEV₁ increment >0.2L and >12%. Very positive FEV₁ reversibility (>0.4L and >15%) predicted sputum eosinophilia after adjustment forage, baseline FEV₁ and FVC (OR: 4.262, P=.029). In the ROC analysis, the AUC was 0.58 (P=.034), and FEV₁ increment>0.4L and >15% had a positive predictive value of 63.6% and an overall accuracy of 70.1%.

CONCLUSIONS

FEV₁ reversibility was weakly correlated with sputum eosinophil levels in COPD. Positive FEV₁ reversibility (>0.4L and >15%) is moderately successful in predicting sputum eosinophilia (>3%).

Incidence and long-term outcome of severe asthma-COPD overlap compared to asthma and COPD alone: a 35-year prospective study of 57,053 middle-aged adults

Background

Incidence and prognosis for severe asthma–COPD overlap is poorly characterized. We investigated incidence and long-term outcome for patients with asthma–COPD overlap compared to asthma and COPD alone.

Materials and methods

A total of 57,053 adults (aged 50–64 years) enrolled in the Danish Diet, Cancer, and Health cohort (1993–1997) were followed in the National Patients Registry for admissions for asthma (DJ45–46) and COPD (DJ40–44) and vital status. Asthma–COPD overlap was defined as at least one hospital admission for asthma and one for COPD (different time points), and incident asthma–COPD overlap as at least one of the diagnoses occurring after enrollment into the Diet, Cancer, and Health cohort.

Results

A total of 1,845 (3.2%) and 4,037 (7.1%) participants had admissions for asthma and COPD, respectively, with 662 (1.2%) participants with asthma–COPD overlap. Incidence rate of asthma–COPD overlap per 1,000 person-years was higher in women (0.73) than in men (0.54) (P<0.02). Mortality rate was higher in asthma–COPD overlap (25.9 per 1,000 person-years) compared with COPD (23.1, P<0.05) and asthma (7.9, P<0.001) alone. Compared to COPD alone, mortality was higher in women with asthma–COPD overlap (19.6 and 25.5, respectively; P<0.01), and the excess mortality rate for asthma–COPD overlap patients was most prominent for younger age groups (12.9 compared to 7.2 and 4.6 for COPD and asthma alone, respectively; P<0.01).

Conclusion

This large population-based study revealed a higher incidence of severe asthma–COPD overlap in women compared to men, and furthermore that all-cause mortality is higher in women and younger subjects with asthma–COPD overlap compared with those with asthma or COPD alone.

Asthma-chronic obstructive pulmonary disease overlap syndrome - Literature review and contributions towards a Portuguese consensus

INTRODUCTION

Phenotypic overlap between the two main chronic airway pulmonary diseases, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), has been the subject of debate for decades, and recently the nomenclature of asthma-COPD overlap syndrome (ACOS) was adopted for this condition. The definition of this entity in the literature is, however, very heterogeneous, it is therefore important to define how it applies to Portugal.

METHODS

A literature review of ACOS was made in a first phase resulting in the drawing up of a document that was later submitted for discussion among a panel of chronic lung diseases experts, resulting in reflexions about diagnosis, treatment and clinical guidance for ACOS patients.

RESULTS

There was a consensus among the experts that the diagnosis of ACOS should be considered in the concomitant presence of: clinical manifestations characteristic of both asthma and COPD, persistent airway obstruction (post-bronchodilator FEV₁/FVC<0.7), positive response to bronchodilator test (increase in FEV₁ of ≥200mL and ≥12% from baseline) and current or past history of smoking or biomass exposure. In reaching diagnosis, the presence of peripheral eosinophilia (>300eosinophils/μL or >5% of leukocytes) and previous history of atopy should also be considered. The recommended first line pharmacological treatment in these patients is the ICS/LABA association; if symptomatic control is not achieved or in case of clinical severity, triple therapy with ICS/LABA/LAMA may be used. An effective control of the exposure to risk factors, vaccination, respiratory rehabilitation and treatment of comorbidities is also important.

CONCLUSIONS

The creation of initial guidelines on ACOS, which can be applied in the Portuguese context, has an important role in the generation of a broad nationwide consensus. This will give, in the near future, a far better clinical, functional and epidemiological characterization of ACOS patients, with the ultimate goal of achieving better therapeutic guidance.

The Mechanisms of the Regulation of Immune Response in Patients with Comorbidity of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Asthma

Background. Comorbidity of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma (asthma COPD overlap syndrome, ACOS) is a significant problem in pulmonary practice, whose pathogenetic issues are not clarified yet. Objective. To study the features of the regulation of immune response in patients with comorbid COPD and asthma. Methods. We assessed the levels of CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD4+/CD8+, CD19+, CD25+, HLA-DR, total IgE, TNF-α, IL-4, IFN-γ, TXB2, and LTB4 in patients with comorbid COPD and asthma. Results. The study involved 44 people with COPD, 39 people with asthma, and 12 people with comorbid COPD and asthma. The specific features in comorbid COPD and asthma were lymphocytosis, increased absolute count of T-helper cells, increased cytotoxic T-lymphocytes in relative and absolute count, increased relative and absolute numbers of B-lymphocytes, and high levels of total IgE. The elevated levels of TNF-α and IL-4 and inhibition of IFN-γ production were detected. The content of LTB4 was maximal; TXB2 levels were higher than in control group but lower than in COPD and asthma. Conclusion. In comorbid COPD and asthma inflammation increased even during stable period. High levels of eicosanoids, low production of Th1-type cytokines, and active synthesis of opposition IL-4, along with increased IgE, indicate the activation of Th2-type immune response.

What is asthma-COPD overlap syndrome? Towards a consensus definition from a round table discussion

Patients with asthma-chronic obstructive pulmonary disease overlap syndrome (ACOS) have been largely excluded from pivotal therapeutic trials and, as a result, its treatment remains poorly defined and lacking firm evidence. To date, there is no universally accepted definition of ACOS, which has made it difficult to understand its epidemiology or pathophysiology. Despite many uncertainties, there is emerging agreement that some of the key features of ACOS include persistent airflow limitation in symptomatic individuals 40 years of age and older, a well-documented history of asthma in childhood or early adulthood and a significant exposure history to cigarette or biomass smoke. In this perspective, we propose a case definition of ACOS that incorporates these key features in a parsimonious algorithm that may enable clinicians to better diagnose patients with ACOS and most importantly enable researchers to design therapeutic and clinical studies to elucidate its epidemiology and pathophysiology and to ascertain its optimal management strategies.

The asthma-COPD overlap syndrome: do we really need another syndrome in the already complex matrix of airway disease?

The term asthma–COPD overlap syndrome (ACOS) is one of multiple terms used to describe patients with characteristics of both COPD and asthma, representing ~20% of patients with obstructive airway diseases. The recognition of both sets of morbidities in patients is important to guide practical treatment decisions. It is widely recognized that patients with COPD and coexisting asthma present with a higher disease burden, despite the conceptual expectation that the “reversible” or “treatable” component of asthma would allow for more effective management and better outcomes. However, subcategorization into terms such as ACOS is complicated by the vast spectrum of heterogeneity that is encapsulated by asthma and COPD, resulting in different clinical clusters. In this review, we discuss the possibility that these different clusters are suboptimally described by the umbrella term “ACOS”, as this additional categorization may lead to clinical confusion and potential inappropriate use of resources. We suggest that a more clinically relevant approach would be to recognize the extreme variability and the numerous phenotypes encompassed within obstructive airway diseases, with various degrees of overlapping in individual patients. In addition, we discuss some of the evidence to be considered when making practical decisions on the treatment of patients with overlapping characteristics between COPD and asthma, as well as the potential options for phenotype and biomarker-driven management of airway disease with the aim of providing more personalized treatment for patients. Finally, we highlight the need for more evidence in patients with overlapping disease characteristics and to facilitate better characterization of potential treatment responders.

Benralizumab: a unique IL-5 inhibitor for severe asthma

The presence of eosinophilic inflammation is a characteristic feature of chronic and acute inflammation in asthma. An estimated 5%–10% of the 300 million people worldwide who suffer from asthma have a severe form. Patients with eosinophilic airway inflammation represent approximately 40%–60% of this severe asthmatic population. This form of asthma is often uncontrolled, marked by refractoriness to standard therapy, and shows persistent airway eosinophilia despite glucocorticoid therapy. This paper reviews personalized novel therapies, more specifically benralizumab, a humanized anti-IL-5Rα antibody, while also being the first to provide an algorithm for potential candidates who may benefit from anti-IL-5Rα therapy.