ABSTRACT
In this chapter, treatable traits outside the lung will be thoroughly addressed. A common site for extrapulmonary treatable traits is the upper airway and we will consider allergic rhinitis, chronic rhinosinusitis and conditions involving the laryngeal area. In the laryngeal area, both supraglottic and glottic closure in response to exercise or other provocative factors can mimic symptoms due to asthma. Finally, obstructive sleep apnoea, which also affects the laryngopharyngeal area, will be included. Moreover, exercise, GERD and depression are also important issues for the control of extrapulmonary treatable traits in asthma. In this chapter, the overlap between COPD and asthma will be discussed, as this issue has importance for asthma control, but is outside the focus of the pulmonary chapter.
Each topic includes an introduction of the area, the mechanism behind the different traits, the importance for asthma mechanisms and the clinical importance of the issue. Diagnosis of the selected treatable traits is called ‘recognizing the traits’, followed by suggestions for treatment selection and lastly what does it mean for the patients.
The chapter is developed with a clinical angle, and it should be possible to use the different traits in a clinical setting. Several tables or figures are selected from current research and knowledge in the area, and this chapter ends with a selected group of references as recommended reading.
