Asthma-COPD overlap syndrome in the US: a prospective population-based analysis of patient-reported outcomes and health care utilization.

BACKGROUND: Prior work suggests that asthma-COPD overlap syndrome (ACOS) has a greater health burden than asthma alone or COPD alone. In the current study, we have further evaluated the health burden of ACOS in a nationally representative sample of the US population, focusing on patient-reported outcomes and health care utilization and on comparisons with asthma alone and COPD alone. Patient-reported outcomes are especially meaningful, as these include functional activities that are highly valued by patients and are the basis for patient-centered care.
METHODS: Using data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), we evaluated patient-reported outcomes and health care utilization among participants who were aged 40-85 years and had self-reported, physician-diagnosed asthma or COPD. MEPS administered five rounds of interviews, at baseline and approximately every 6 months over 2.5 years. Patient-reported outcomes included activities of daily living (ADLs), mobility, social/recreational activities, disability days in bed, and health status (Short Form 12, Version 2). Health care utilization included outpatient and emergency department (ED) visits, and hospitalization.
RESULTS: Of 3,486 participants with asthma or COPD, 1,585 (45.4%) had asthma alone, 1,294 (37.1%) had COPD alone, and 607 (17.4%) had ACOS. Relative to asthma alone, ACOS was significantly associated with higher odds of prevalent disability in ADLs and limitations in mobility and social/recreational activities (adjusted odds ratios [adjORs]: 1.91-3.98), as well as with higher odds of incident limitations in mobility and social/recreational activities, disability days in bed, and respiratory-based outpatient and ED visits, and hospitalization (adjORs: 1.86-2.35). In addition, ACOS had significantly worse physical and mental health scores than asthma alone (P-values <0.0001). Relative to COPD alone, ACOS was significantly associated with higher odds of prevalent limitations in mobility and social/recreational activities (adjORs: 1.68-2.06), as well as with higher odds of incident disability days in bed and respiratory-based outpatient and ED visits (adjORs: 1.48-1.74). In addition, ACOS had a significantly worse physical health score, but similar mental health score, as compared with COPD alone (P-values 0.0025 and 0.1578, respectively).
CONCLUSION: In the US, ACOS is associated with a greater health burden, including patient-reported outcomes and health care utilization, relative to asthma alone and COPD alone.

Introduction

In the US, obstructive airway disease in middle-aged and older persons occurs most often as asthma or COPD.1–5 During the period from 2008 through 2010, the US National Surveillance of Asthma reported the prevalence of current asthma as 7.7% in those aged 35–64 years, as well as in those aged ≥65 years.4 Current asthma was defined epidemiologically as a self-reported physician diagnosis still present at the time of the survey, and in the stated age groups, women were more likely to self-report asthma.4 In the year 2011, the US Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System reported a prevalence of COPD that ranged from 6.6% to 9.2% across the age group of 45–64 years and from 11.6% to 12.1% across the age group of ≥65 years.5 COPD was defined epidemiologically as a self-reported physician diagnosis of chronic bronchitis or emphysema, and in the stated age groups, women were more likely to self-report COPD.5 In general, asthma is characterized by variable, reversible airway obstruction, frequently associated with an atopic history, while COPD is characterized by progressive, irreversible airway obstruction, frequently due to tobacco smoking.1–3

Among middle-aged and older adults with asthma or COPD, 15%–45% have both conditions, referred to as the asthma–COPD overlap syndrome (ACOS).1,6–12 In particular, ACOS may include long-standing or adult-onset asthma that has progressed to irreversible airway obstruction (a consequence of airway remodeling from chronic airway inflammation that is specific to allergens, but can also be nonspecific), as well as include COPD that is characterized by having both a smoking and atopic history, and a reversible component to the airway obstruction.1–3,6–17

Prior work has suggested that ACOS is associated with a greater health burden,1,6–12,15–25 including respiratory symptoms, health-related quality of life, exacerbations, and comorbidities, as compared with asthma alone and COPD alone. In the current study, we have further evaluated the health burden of ACOS in a nationally representative sample of the US population, focusing on patient-reported outcomes and health care utilization, and on comparisons with asthma alone and COPD alone. Patient-reported outcomes are especially meaningful, as these often include functional activities that are highly valued by patients and are the basis for patient-centered care.26–28

To evaluate the health burden in ACOS, we have used baseline and longitudinal data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), a large, nationally representative sample of the US population.29 MEPS included epidemiologic definitions of asthma and COPD, as described earlier, and a broad array of demographic and clinical characteristics. Patient-reported outcomes were also evaluated, having included disability in self-care activities of daily living (ADLs), limitations in mobility and social/recreational activities, disability days in bed, and health status. Health care utilization was additionally evaluated in several clinical settings, having included outpatient and emergency department (ED) visits, and hospitalizations (identified by diagnostic codes from the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision [ICD-9]).

Methods

Study population

MEPS cohort is a nationally representative sample of the US civilian population, sponsored by the US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) through the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Participants were followed for 2.5 years, with five rounds of interviews occurring approximately every 6 months after the baseline visit (round 1). The data for the current study came from the Household Component of the survey, administered at baseline, wherein one adult from the household is questioned about demographic and clinical characteristics of household members, respiratory medications, functional status, and health care utilization (outpatient and ED visits, and hospitalizations). A self-administered questionnaire was additionally completed by each member of the household at round 2 of the survey to assess smoking history, sensory impairments (vision and hearing), and depressive symptoms.

In the current study, the analytical sample included participants from the 2008–2012 panels of MEPS who were aged 40–85 years, had self-reported, physician-diagnosed COPD or asthma, and who gave information on smoking history (Figure 1).29 We selected age ≥40 years because COPD and its related adverse health outcomes are most prevalent in this age group.5,30 Because the study used existing de-identified data that were publicly available, it was granted exemption from participant consent and ethical approval by the institutional review board of Yale University.

Figure 1

Sample size of the MEPS: 2008–2012 panels.

Note: aThe participants who died were not excluded from our analytical sample, since they had data at rounds 1 (baseline) and 2 of the survey.

Abbreviations: MEPS, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey; ACOS, asthma–COPD overlap syndrome.

Asthma, COPD, and ACOS

The diagnoses of asthma and COPD were established at the baseline visit, based on data from the priority condition section of the household interview. Asthma was defined as a self-reported physician diagnosis that was still present at the baseline interview (current asthma). COPD was defined as self-reported chronic bronchitis (present in the 12 months prior to the baseline interview) or emphysema (ever-diagnosed). ACOS was then defined as having both asthma and COPD.

Demographic and clinical characteristics

Demographic characteristics included age (40–64 vs 65–85 years), sex, race (black vs other), ethnicity (Hispanic vs other), marital status (married vs not married), education (≤11 vs ≥12 years), income (poor-to-low vs middle-to-high income, defined by <200% vs ≥200% of family income divided by the poverty line, respectively), having private medical insurance during the first study year, and smoking status (current vs never or former smoker). Comorbid conditions included self-reported, physician-diagnosed cardiovascular disease (coronary heart disease, angina, or myocardial infarction), stroke, diabetes, and cancer (any). Depressive symptomatology was defined by a Patient Health Questionnaire score ≥3.31 Impairments were also assessed in cognition (confusion, memory loss, difficulty making decisions, or requiring supervision for safety), vision (ranging from some difficulty to not being able to read a newspaper or recognize familiar people standing 2–3 feet away), and hearing (ranging from some difficulty to cannot hear most things people say). Vision and hearing impairments were combined into sensory impairment, if either or both were present. Of note, smoking history based on pack-years and respiratory symptoms, such as dyspnea and wheezing, were unavailable in MEPS.

As described earlier, demographic and clinical characteristics were evaluated at baseline (round 1), but current smoking status, depressive symptomatology, and sensory impairments were first evaluated at round 2. However, if a current smoker was identified at round 2, that person was assumed to have been a smoker at baseline (round 1), given the adult age of participants (smoking is typically initiated prior to middle age) and the close temporal proximity of rounds 1 and 2.

Respiratory medications

Respiratory medications were identified at the baseline visit by bottles or receipts and categorized according to therapeutic class and subclass using the Multum Lexicon system from Cerner Multum, Inc (Denver, CO, USA; www.multum.com/Lexicon.htm). Thereafter, we identified the respiratory medications based on these codes, confirming all medication names for accuracy.

Patient-reported outcomes

The outcomes of interest included disability in self-care ADLs (evaluated at baseline and over 2.5 years of follow-up), limitations in mobility and social/recreational activities (evaluated at baseline and over 2.5 years of follow-up), number of disability days in bed that were due to physical or mental problems (evaluated over 2.5 years of follow-up), and health status (evaluated at rounds 2 and 4). ADL disability was defined as needing help or supervision with bathing, dressing, or getting around the house. Mobility limitations were defined as difficulty in walking up 10 steps and in walking three blocks. A social/recreation limitation was established if participation in social, recreational, or family activities was limited as a result of impairments or a physical or mental health problem. The number of disability days spent in bed was ascertained over a follow-up period of 2.5 years, stratified as 0–6 days and ≥7 days. Health status was evaluated by the Short Form 12, Version 2 (SF-12v2), which included 12 items from the Medical Outcomes Study, 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey and which yielded scores for a Physical Component Summary (PCS) and a Mental Component Summary (MCS).32 The PCS score measured the participant’s perceived impact of physical health on activities, while the MCS score measured the participant’s perceived impact of mental health on activities.32 In normative data, the mean score is set to 50; thus, PCS and MCS scores <50 indicate worse physical and mental health, respectively.32

Health care utilization

Outpatient visits (including physician or hospital clinic visits), ED visits, and hospitalizations were additionally ascertained over 2.5 years of follow-up, with each categorized by ICD-9 codes as cardiac (401, 410, 413–415, 423–428, 431, 433–438, 440–444, and 447), respiratory (416, 464, 466, 471–473, 477, 478, 480, 482, 483, 485–488, 490–493, 496, 505, 511, 514, 515, and 518), and for any reason, respectively. The outpatient visits were further stratified based on a threshold of having six or more outpatient visits, corresponding to a frequency averaging more often than every 6 months over 2.5 years of follow-up.

Statistical analysis

Unless stated otherwise, comparisons were made between ACOS and asthma alone and between ACOS and COPD alone, with adjustments made for primary sampling units, strata, and weights of the MEPS data; these sample weights provide the US population-level estimates.

First, the demographic and clinical characteristics of asthma, COPD, and ACOS were evaluated at baseline in a single multinomial logistic multivariable model that was adjusted for the following covariates: age, gender, black race, Hispanic ethnicity, marital status, education, income, medical insurance, current smoking status, comorbid conditions, and cognitive and sensory impairment. Correlation among covariates was all <0.3 with Kendall’s Tau b. Next, the use of respiratory medications at baseline was evaluated using unadjusted logistic regression models; P-values were adjusted for multiple comparisons (Hochberg method). The prevalence of patient-reported outcomes at baseline was also evaluated using multivariable logistic regression models that were adjusted for the baseline covariates described earlier.

Among participants who were non-disabled or were without limitations at baseline, the onset of patient-reported outcomes, measured approximately every 6 months over a period of 2.5 years, was additionally evaluated. Specifically, the respective associations with incident disability in ADLs, incident limitations in mobility and social/recreational activities, and incident disability days in bed (≥7 vs 0–6 days) – over the follow-up period of 2.5 years – were tested with multivariable logistic regression models, adjusted for the same baseline covariates as described earlier. For all participants, three classes of health care utilization (cardiac, respiratory, and any) were evaluated using multivariable logistic regression models, adjusted for the same baseline covariates as described earlier. Finally, for all participants, the PCS and MCS scores from the SF-12v2 were evaluated separately, using longitudinal linear modeling adjusted for time and the baseline covariates described earlier, and the results are presented as adjusted least squares mean scores with 95% confidence intervals.

Missing baseline data were limited to four characteristics (education, comorbid cardiovascular disease, cognition, and sensory impairment), all <0.01%. The amount of missingness for all outcomes except disability days was less than 1%, while disability days was missing for less than 2% of the sample. Because of this small amount of missing data, all modeling of outcomes was based on complete case analysis.

All statistical analyses were performed using SAS software version 9.4 (SAS Institute, Cary, NC, USA), with a two-sided α=0.05 for statistical significance.

Results

Figure 1 shows the sample size of MEPS for the 2008–2012 panels. Of the 3,486 participants who had asthma or COPD, 1,585 (45.4%) had asthma alone, 1,294 (37.1%) had COPD alone, and 607 (17.4%) had ACOS (included both asthma and COPD). Over the follow-up period of 2.5 years, 98 (2.8%) participants had died.

Table 1 shows the demographic and clinical characteristics, with percentages representing the MEPS national frequencies. Relative to asthma alone, ACOS had significantly higher frequencies of older age, less education, current smoker status, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and depressive symptomatology, but a lower frequency of His-panic representation. Relative to COPD alone, ACOS had significantly higher frequencies of female representation and depressive symptomatology, but lower frequencies of older age and married status. Otherwise, frequencies of cardiovascular disease and current smoker status in ACOS vs COPD alone were only borderline significant or minimally different (respectively).

Table 1

Baseline demographic and clinical characteristics: asthma alone, COPD alone, and ACOS

Characteristicsa	Percent prevalence (%)b			P-valuec
	Asthma (N=1,585)	COPD (N=1,294)	ACOS (N=607)	ACOS vs asthma	ACOS vs COPD
Age (years)
40–64 (middle age)	77.0	50.7	63.2	<0.001	<0.001
65–85 (older age)	23.0	49.3	36.7
Female	70.6	51.7	67.8	0.692	<0.001
Black	12.6	7.6	11.0	0.070	0.288
Hispanic	8.7	6.0	6.6	0.019	0.650
Married	57.9	54.3	43.8	0.072	0.044
Education: < high school	12.5	26.6	29.7	<0.001	0.455
Low income	30.7	39.6	45.7	0.969	0.947
Medical insurance	90.8	93.7	90.2	0.620	0.165
Current smoker	14.0	39.3	38.1	<0.001	0.038
Comorbid conditions
Cardiovasculard	13.1	29.7	34.7	<0.001	0.050
Stroke	7.8	11.9	15.4	0.784	0.307
Diabetes	18.2	20.9	26.5	0.288	0.142
Cancer	16.7	27.0	25.6	0.013	0.933
Depressive symptomatologye	13.0	23.0	30.4	<0.001	0.045
Impairments
Cognitive	9.6	16.7	19.5	0.733	0.501
Sensoryf	19.2	32.8	29.6	0.115	0.367

Notes:

Evaluated at the baseline visit (round 1 of the survey), except for smoking history, depressive symptomatology, and sensory impairments (first evaluated in round 2).

Percentages are adjusted for sampling weights but unadjusted for other factors in the model.

From a multinomial logistic regression model adjusted for all characteristics in the table.

Includes coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, and angina.

Patient Health Questionnaire score ≥3.

Includes vision or hearing.

Abbreviation: ACOS, asthma–COPD overlap syndrome.

Table 2 shows the respiratory medications, with percentages representing the MEPS national frequencies. Relative to asthma alone, ACOS had significantly higher frequencies of using a steroid (systemic and inhaled) and bronchodilator (all three classes). Relative to COPD alone, ACOS had significantly higher frequencies of using a steroid (systemic and inhaled), bronchodilator (adrenergic or anticholinergic), leukotriene modifier, antihistamine, and decongestant.

Table 2

Respiratory medication use: asthma alone, COPD alone, and ACOS

Respiratory medications	Percent prevalence (%)a			P-valueb
	Asthma (N=1,585)	COPD (N=1,294)	ACOS (N=607)	ACOS vs asthma	ACOS vs COPD
Steroids
Systemic	4.1	5.9	11.1	<0.001	0.007
Inhaled	19.1	10.7	26.6	0.042	<0.001
Bronchodilatorsc
Adrenergicd	26.3	18.0	41.7	<0.001	<0.001
Anticholinergice	3.0	10.7	16.0	<0.001	0.035
Methylxanthinef	0.5	0.8	2.5	0.018	0.056
Any	27.2	20.8	44.4	<0.001	<0.001
Smoking cessation
Nicotine supplement	0.03	0.2	0.1	NA
Nicotine receptor agonist	0.2	0.7	0.8
Asthma-based medication
Cromolyn oral inhaler	0.01	0	0	NA
Leukotriene modifier	9.6	2.7	10.6	0.552	<0.001
Any	9.6	2.7	10.6	0.552	<0.001
Antihistamine	9.5	5.8	12.7	0.524	<0.001
Decongestant	1.2	0.7	2.3	0.524	0.004
Expectorant	1.8	1.4	2.3	0.552	0.426
Cough suppressant	2.1	2.4	3.0	0.552	0.503
Nasal sprays
Steroid nasal spray	6.1	3.4	7.4	0.552	0.056
Cromolyn nasal spray	0	0	0	NA

Notes: Some data were NA due to small cell size.

Percentages are adjusted for sampling weights but unadjusted for other factors in the model.

Comparisons were ACOS vs asthma alone and ACOS vs COPD alone, using unadjusted logistic regression models; P-values were, however, adjusted for multiple comparisons by the Hochberg method (these adjustments may result in identical P-values).

Stratified by pharmacologic category.

Beta2-selective, aerosolized (inhaler or nebulizer), or oral formulation.

Aerosolized (inhaler or nebulizer).

In addition to bronchodilation, methylxanthines may have other putative effects (eg, increased diaphragmatic muscle strength); available in multiple oral formulations.

Abbreviations: ACOS, asthma–COPD overlap syndrome; NA, not applicable.

Figure 2 shows the adjusted odds ratios for patient-reported outcomes, at baseline (prevalent) and over a follow-up period of 2.5 years (incident). Relative to asthma alone, ACOS was significantly associated with higher odds of having prevalent disability in self-care ADLs and limitations in mobility and social/recreational activities (adjusted odds ratios: 1.91–3.98), as well as higher odds of having incident limitations in mobility and social/recreational activities, and disability days in bed (adjusted odds ratios: 1.86–2.35). Relative to COPD alone, ACOS was significantly associated with higher odds of having prevalent limitations in mobility and social/recreational activities (adjusted odds ratios: 1.68–2.06), as well as higher odds of having incident disability days in bed (adjusted odds ratio: 1.48).

Figure 2

Comparisons of patient-reported outcomes at baseline and over a follow-up period of 2.5 years: ACOS vs asthma alone and ACOS vs COPD alone.

Notes: aEvaluated at baseline and included disability in self-care ADLs and limitations in mobility and social/recreational activities. Comparisons were made between ACOS vs asthma alone and ACOS vs COPD alone, using multivariable logistic regression models that were adjusted for baseline covariates (age, sex, race, ethnicity, marital status, education, income, medical insurance status, current smoking status, cardiovascular diseases, stroke, diabetes, cancer, and cognitive impairment). bIncludes new onset of disability in self-care ADLs, limitations in mobility and social/recreational activities, and disability days in bed (≥7 vs 0–6 days), over 2.5 years. Comparisons were made between ACOS vs asthma alone and ACOS vs COPD alone, using multivariable logistic regression models that were adjusted for the same baseline covariates as described.

Abbreviations: ACOS, asthma–COPD overlap syndrome; ADLs, activities of daily living; CI, confidence interval.

Figure 3 shows the adjusted odds ratios for health care utilization, over a follow-up period of 2.5 years. Relative to asthma alone, ACOS was significantly associated with higher odds of having respiratory-based outpatient and ED visits, and respiratory-based hospitalization (adjusted odds ratios: 2.38–2.86), as well as higher odds of having any outpatient and ED visits, and any hospitalization (adjusted odds ratios: 1.53–1.75). Relative to COPD alone, ACOS was significantly associated with higher odds of having respiratory-based outpatient and ED visits (adjusted odds ratios: 1.74 and 1.64, respectively). Otherwise, cardiac-based health care utilization only differed for outpatient visits and only between ACOS and asthma alone (adjusted odds ratio: 1.45).

Figure 3

Comparisons of health care utilization over a follow-up period of 2.5 years: ACOS vs asthma alone and ACOS vs COPD alone.

Notes: Multivariable logistic regression models were adjusted for age, sex, race, ethnicity, marital status, education, income, medical insurance status, current smoking status, cardiovascular diseases, stroke, diabetes, cancer, and cognitive impairment. aIncludes physician or hospital clinic visits, and corresponds to a frequency averaging more often than every 6 months. bDue to any reason, including cardiac or respiratory.

Abbreviations: ACOS, asthma–COPD overlap syndrome; CI, confidence interval; ED, emergency department.

Table 3 shows the health status, based on adjusted least squares mean scores for the PCS and MCS of the SF-12v2. The adjusted least squares mean scores for the PCS and MCS were less than 50 (signifying worse health status) in asthma alone, COPD alone, and ACOS. Relative to asthma alone, ACOS had significantly lower adjusted least squares mean scores for the PCS and MCS (P-values <0.0001). Relative to COPD alone, ACOS had significantly lower adjusted least squares mean score for the PCS (P-value 0.0025) but a similar adjusted least squares mean score for the MCS (P-value 0.1578).

Table 3

Health status scores for the PCS and MCS of the SF-12v2, expressed as adjusted least squares means: asthma alone, COPD alone, and ACOS

Obstructive airway disease	Health status (SF-12v2)
	PCS		MCS
	Adjusted least squares mean score (95% CI)a	P-valueb	Adjusted least squares mean scorea	P-valueb
Asthma	35.7 (35.2, 36.2)	<0.0001b	43.3 (42.7, 43.8)	<0.0001b
COPD	28.9 (28.1, 29.7)	0.0025c	41.3 (40.4, 42.1)	0.1578c
ACOS	26.9 (25.8, 28.0)	–	40.3 (39.2, 41.5)	–

Notes: In normative data, the mean score is set to 50; thus, PCS and MCS scores <50 indicate worse physical and mental health, respectively.

The PCS and MCS of the SF-12v2, which includes 12 items from the Medical Outcomes Study, were evaluated separately, with adjusted least squares mean scores calculated from longitudinal linear models, adjusted for time and the baseline covariates of age, sex, race, ethnicity, marital status, education, income, medical insurance status, current smoking status, cardiovascular diseases, stroke, diabetes, cancer, and cognitive impairment.

Comparison is ACOS vs asthma alone.

Comparison is ACOS vs COPD alone.

Abbreviations: PCS, Physical Component Summary; MCS, Mental Component Summary; SF-12v2, Short Form 12, Version 2; ACOS, asthma–COPD overlap syndrome; CI, confidence interval.

Discussion

In a large, nationally representative sample of the US population aged 40–85 years (MEPS), our results reaffirm that ACOS is associated with increased health burden, relative to asthma alone and COPD alone. In particular, ACOS was consistently associated with patient-reported outcomes, characterized by increased limitations in mobility and social/recreational activities, increased disability days in bed, and worse physical health status. Moreover, ACOS was consistently associated with increased respiratory-based outpatient and ED visits. In these associations, prevalent and incident health burden were considered similarly important, because irreversible obstructive airway disease in middle-aged or older persons may have already resulted in persistent adverse health effects at the baseline visit.

The increased health burden in ACOS, relative to asthma alone and COPD alone, may be due to an underlying respiratory mechanism. Specifically, our results show that the health burden in ACOS was additionally characterized by significantly higher frequencies of using a steroid (systemic and inhaled) and bronchodilator at the baseline visit, as compared with asthma alone and COPD alone. Increased use of respiratory medications in ACOS, together with increased respiratory-based outpatient and ED visits, strongly suggests that a respiratory mechanism contributed to the increased health burden in ACOS, relative to asthma alone and COPD alone.

The respiratory mechanism that underlies the increased health burden in ACOS may have been due to obstructive airway disease.1–3,6–17 We found, for example, that the use of allergy-related medications (leukotriene modifier and antihistamine) was significantly more frequent in ACOS than COPD alone, and that older age and current smoker status were significantly more frequent in ACOS than asthma alone. Hence, we postulate that having an atopic and smoking history, as well as being middle-aged or older, may have driven the pathophysiology of ACOS to include obstructive airway disease that is due to coexisting COPD and long-standing or adult-onset asthma.1–3,6–17 This hypothesis would require spirometric confirmation and characterization of airway inflammation, which were not available in the MEPS cohort.

We additionally note that ACOS also had a higher frequency of cardiovascular disease and cardiac-based health care utilization (outpatient visits), but only when compared with asthma alone and not with COPD alone. The cardiovascular outcomes may relate to ACOS having a larger proportion of persons who were aged ≥65 years and current smokers, as compared with asthma alone. Otherwise, both ACOS and COPD alone included a substantial proportion of older persons and exhibited similarly high rates of current smoking.

The MEPS dataset provides a unique opportunity to evaluate the population-based health burden of ACOS, relative to asthma alone and COPD alone. MEPS includes a contemporary and nationally representative sample of the US population, a large number of participants with asthma or COPD, a wide age range, female and minority representation, and documentation of patient-reported outcomes and health care utilization. Moreover, because asthma and COPD were physician-diagnosed, rather than specifically established by spirometry, and because health care utilization was based on ICD-9 codes, the results of the current study have broad generalizability, including in primary care practice and older populations. Importantly, ACOS studies that are based on spirometry may have limited generalizability, given that primary care providers frequently lack access to spirometry as a means to establish obstructive airway disease, and given that older patients who are frail or cognitively impaired may have difficulty completing spirometry.33–36

Given the strengths of the MEPS dataset, we therefore posit that the current study informs public health policy and clinical practice regarding ACOS. At the population level, national surveys of obstructive airway disease in middle-aged and older persons should expand queries and analyses regarding the coexistence of risk factors for COPD and asthma, in order to better ascertain the epidemiology of ACOS. At the patient level, clinical practice guidelines that direct the management of obstructive airway disease in middle-aged and older persons should consider the impact of ACOS on patient-reported outcomes.26–28 We note that patient-reported outcomes are especially meaningful, as these often include functional activities that are highly valued by patients and are the basis for patient-centered care.26–28 We further note that patient-reported outcomes in older populations may be multifactorial and, in turn, are potentially modifiable by non-respiratory interventions such as addressing medication-related adverse effects and environmental barriers, and considering referrals to physical and occupational therapy, and social services.37

The current study also informs potential differences in the reported epidemiology of ACOS across countries. For example, using self-reported physician diagnoses that were similar to those in MEPS (US), a prior study19 of a nationally representative sample of the Chinese population reported that among participants who had asthma or COPD (N=2,793), 13.1% (366/2,793) had ACOS, whereas our MEPS analytical sample yielded an ACOS proportion of 17.4% (607/3,486). The same Chinese population study19 also reported that the health burden in ACOS was significantly greater than in COPD alone, but not in asthma alone, whereas our MEPS analytical sample showed that the health burden in ACOS was significantly greater relative to asthma alone and COPD alone.

The epidemiologic differences between the Chinese and American study samples suggest that the pathophysiology of ACOS may also differ. In particular, the Chinese study sample19 included a substantial proportion of participants aged <40 years (our MEPS analytical sample did not, as COPD is rare in younger Americans) and, in addition, the Chinese study sample19 included a current smoking status that was consistently high across asthma alone, COPD alone, and ACOS (40.7%, 32.5%, and 37.7% vs our MEPS analytical sample of 14.0%, 39.3%, and 38.1%, respectively). We postulate that, in younger age groups, the pathophysiology of ACOS is likely to be more asthma predominant and less likely to include a component of severe COPD (lag time exists between smoking exposure and progression to severe COPD). Thus, if current smoking rates in China continue and are accompanied by increased aging of the population, the pathophysiology of ACOS may shift to a greater COPD component. Conversely, if the ongoing decline of smoking rates in the US continues and is accompanied by increased aging of the population, the pathophysiology of ACOS may shift to a greater asthma component (long-standing or adult-onset).

Limitations

Epidemiological surveys, such as MEPS and the earlier described US National Surveillance of Asthma and US Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, have established asthma and COPD based on self-reported, physician diagnoses.4,5,29 As discussed earlier, this approach may be more generalizable to primary care and geriatric practice. In addition, within the context of a population-based study, our results suggest that self-reported, physician-diagnosed ACOS is clinically meaningful, given its association with respiratory-based health care utilization. Nonetheless, in an individual patient, the clinical assessment of obstructive airway disease requires objective confirmation by spirometric criteria,3,38 which was not available in MEPS.

Accordingly, we note that other studies have evaluated health burden in ACOS by using spirometric criteria from the Global initiative for Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD), specifically to confirm COPD and to establish its severity.16–18,22–25 This approach, however, also has limitations. Although spirometry is an objective measure of lung function, it has limited generalizability in primary care practice and among older populations, as discussed earlier.33–36 Furthermore, even when spirometry is successfully completed, the GOLD spirometric criteria increasingly misidentify aging-related airflow limitation as COPD, starting at age 45–50 years.39–43 In addition, there is no spirometric pattern of obstruction that can specifically distinguish COPD from asthma, including in the presence or absence of bronchodilator reversibility.1,44 Thus, there is a strong need to develop ACOS-based objective criteria, potentially including biomarkers that are generalizable to primary care practice and older populations; these may better establish the health burden at the population level, as well as better inform clinical management at the patient level.45–48

We acknowledge other potential limitations to the MEPS dataset, including the omission of a smoking history based on pack-years and the omission of respiratory symptoms (especially dyspnea). In addition, MEPS first evaluated depressive symptoms and sensory impairments at round 2, rather than at baseline (round 1). These limitations have precluded a comparison of smoking exposure and respiratory symptoms between ACOS vs asthma alone and COPD alone, and have prevented the use of depressive symptoms and sensory impairments as covariates in multivariable models (ie, the measurement of these explanatory variables during the time of eligibility for the outcome did not allow for clear temporal precedence relative to the outcome).

Conclusion

Using baseline and longitudinal data from a large, nationally representative sample of the US population aged 40–85 years (MEPS), we have shown that ACOS is associated with increased health burden, including patient-reported outcomes and respiratory-based health care utilization, as compared with asthma alone and COPD alone. The increase in patient-reported outcomes is especially meaningful, as these include functional activities that are highly valued by patients and are the basis for patient-centered care.26–28