Baarnes CB, et al. - In this prospective study involving a population-based cohort of 55,110 adults (aged 50-64 years), researchers identified determinants of incident asthma–chronic obstructive pulmonary disease overlap (ACO), defined as ≥ 1 hospital admission for both asthma and COPD. They found that age, current smoking, unemployment, and being divorced at baseline were related to a statistically significant higher risk of ACO. On the other hand, physical activity in leisure time and high education were correlated with a lower risk of ACO. In contrast to ACO, preexisting myocardial infarction, stroke, environmental tobacco smoke, and occupational exposure were related to a higher risk of COPD. Findings revealed that incident ACO is, to a large extent, determined by factors related to lifestyle (smoking, physical activity, alcohol use) and socioeconomic status, including level of education.