Cough persistence in adults with chronic cough: a 4-year retrospective cohort study

Kang, Sung Yoon; Song, Woo Jung; Won, Ha Kyeong; Chung, Soo Jie; Kim, Ju Young; Park, Heung Woo; Morice, Alyn H.; Cho, Sang-Heon

Abstract

Background
There is very limited evidence regarding long-term prognosis of chronic cough. We examined longitudinal outcomes among patients with chronic cough, and explored predictors of cough persistence.
Methods
A retrospective cohort was constructed of adults who had newly visited a specialist cough clinic in 2012–2013. All had undergone systematic investigation for chronic cough. The Hull Airway Reflux Questionnaire (HARQ) was administered to assess reflux cough symptoms. A follow-up survey was conducted in 2016–2017 to assess cough persistence.
Results
From 418 candidates, 323 participated in the follow-up study; main analyses focused on patients with chronic persistent cough (n=64; 19.8%) and remitted cough (n=193; 59.8%). Compared with remitted cough, chronic persistent cough group had more family history of chronic cough (17.2% vs. 4.7%, p=0.001) and cold air-sensitive cough (62.5% vs. 44.6%, p=0.013). The total HARQ score did not differ; however, two items (cough with eating and cough with certain foods) scored significantly higher in chronic persistent cough. In multivariate analyses, a family history of chronic cough (adjusted odds ratio 4.27 [95% confidence interval 1.35-9.89]), cold air-sensitive cough (2.01 [1.09-3.73]), and cough with eating (1.22 [1.02–1.45]) were associated with chronic persistent cough at 4 years.
Conclusions
Cough persists in about 20% of patients after 4 years following systematic assessment and treatments. Several cough characteristics, such as family history, cold air-sensitivity, or reflux cough, may be associated with cough persistence. Larger cohort studies are warranted to further understand long-term prognosis and confirm predictors of persistence in patients with chronic cough.

Citation

Kang, S. Y., Song, W. J., Won, H. K., Chung, S. J., Kim, J. Y., Park, H. W., Morice, A. H., & Cho, S.-H. (2020). Cough persistence in adults with chronic cough: a 4-year retrospective cohort study. Allergology International, 69(4), 588-593. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.alit.2020.03.012

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Mar 23, 2020
• Online Publication Date: Apr 20, 2020
• Publication Date: 2020-10
• Deposit Date: Apr 1, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 24, 2020
• Journal: Allergology International
• Print ISSN: 1323-8930
• Electronic ISSN: 1440-1592
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 69
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 588-593
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.alit.2020.03.012
• Keywords: Chronic cough; Epidemiology; Longitudinal outcome; Predictor; Retrospective cohort study
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/3481376
• Publisher URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1323893020300496