Clinical features differentiating chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder and asthma
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder | Asthma | |
|---|---|---|
| Smoker or ex-smoker | Nearly all | Possibly |
| Symptoms under the age of 35 years | Rare | Often |
| Chronic productive cough | Common | Uncommon |
| Breathlessness | Persistent and progressive | Variable, often over short time periods |
| Night-time waking with breathlessness and/or wheeze | Uncommon | Common |
| Significant diurnal or day-to-day variability of symptoms | Uncommon | Common |