Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are worldwide prevalent chronic lung diseases. Asthma and COPD differentiation is often difficult, especially at older ages. Investigation about the clinical, pathophysiology, prognosis and treatment of asthma and COPD began with the investigation of extreme opposite conditions. However, many patients with asthma were excluded from studies, especially if they are smokers or had a negative bronchodilation test. Otherwise many patients with COPD were also excluded, especially if they had a significant improvement in bronchodilation test. Consequently, the majority available studies do not adequately reflect asthma or COPD in clinical practice, as there will be patients with overlap of both: the so-called asthma-chronic obstructive pulmonary disease overlap syndrome (ACOS). The overlap syndrome thematic is now recognized but available data comparing the overlap phenotype with asthma and COPD is scarce. Assuming the asthma and COPD phenotypes heterogeneity urges increase our knowledge about the inflammatory, immune and structural basis of the different phenotypes.

 

The objectives of our project are to characterize the clinical, lung function, inflammatory and immunological characteristics of elderly patients with obstructive lung diseases and to evaluate asthma, COPD and ACOS frequency in elderly patients as well as the clinical characteristics of these patients.

 

This is an observational study with two components (cross-sectional and prospective), divided in three phases:

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