The association between asthma and COPD remains unclear and open to discussion, recent studies have provided 
further evidence of strong epidemiologic and clinical links between asthma and COPD. Both condition defined by the presence of airflow obstruction, but they present distinguishing differences in terms of both risk factors and clinical phenotypes (source: pubmed.gov). Since this overlap condition, the diagnosis of asthma and COPD can be very problematic.
In the article below, there are descriptions about the pathophysiology and the unique pathogenic characteristics of COPD and asthma, early diagnosis of COPD, the staging of disease severity, the use of FEV1 reduction as a prognostic indicator, the latest pharmacological therapy for mild, moderate, and severe COPD and asthma, and smoking cessation approaches that primary care providers can adopt for the prevention of COPD.
This article is intended for medical practitioner with an interest in the epidemiology, diagnosis, and management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or asthma, accordingly. There are table, figures and algorithms provided such Pharmacologic Aids for Smoking Cessation, Stratification Guidelines for Severity of COPD, Reliever/Oral Steroid Use (ROSU) Method for Staging Asthma Severity, A Comprehensive Algorithm for the Treatment of COPD, Duration and Administration of Inhaled Bronchodilators, and Algorithm for Pharmacologic Management of Asthma and COPD Patients.
COPD is characterized by progressively airflow limitation that is not fully reversible, and is associated with an abnormal inflammatory response of the lungs to noxious particles or gases, particularly cigarette smoke, while Asthma is characterized by chronic airway inflammation associated with airway hyperresponsiveness that leads to recurrent episodes of wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and coughing.
You are pleased to download The Overlap of Asthma and COPD – The Management Strategies in pdf document-17 pages/2.08Mb (source: cmecorner.com). Or you might be interested in an Updated Acute Asthma Guideline article.
