Allergy Asthma Immunol Res.  2014 Sep;6(5):401-408. 10.4168/aair.2014.6.5.401.

Capsaicin cough sensitivity is related to the older female predominant feature in chronic cough patients

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. shcho@snu.ac.kr
  • 2Institute of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Seoul National University Medical Research Center, Seoul, Korea.
  • 3Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea.
  • 4Department of Internal Medicine, SMG-SNU Boramae Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.

Abstract

PURPOSE
The present study aimed to examine the age and gender distributions among chronic cough patients referred to a tertiary cough clinic in Korea, and to investigate clinical factors related to the demographic findings.
METHODS
Study participants were unselectively recruited from adult chronic cough patients who attended the cough clinic for the first time during one year. To validate their representativeness, their age and gender distributions were compared to the entire chronic cough population, or with those presenting with other chronic disease. Data from the baseline investigations were analyzed to identify clinical factors related to the demographic findings.
RESULTS
A total of 272 chronic cough patients were included. They had a middle-aged female predominant feature (mean age: 52.8+/-15.7 years and female 69.1%). Their age and gender distributions were almost identical to the entire chronic cough population, but were distinct from patients with hypertension. Among clinical factors, the older female predominance was associated with enhanced capsaicin cough sensitivity, and also with the presence of 'cough by cold air' symptom. Allotussia and laryngeal paresthesia were highly common in chronic cough patients, affecting 94.8% and 86.8% of them, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
The present study demonstrated older female predominance among adult chronic cough patients attending a referral cough clinic in Korea. The demographic features were significantly associated with the capsaicin cough responses and also potentially with allotussia (particularly cold air as the trigger). These findings suggest a role of cough reflex sensitization in the pathophysiology of chronic cough in adults.

Keyword

Cough; respiratory hypersensitivity

MeSH Terms

Adult
Capsaicin*
Chronic Disease
Cough*
Female
Humans
Hypertension
Korea
Paresthesia
Referral and Consultation
Reflex
Respiratory Hypersensitivity
Capsaicin

Figure

  • Fig. 1 Histograms of age (A) and age of onset (B) distribution based on gender for study participants who presented chronic cough on the initial visit (n=272).

  • Fig. 2 Box-and-whisker plots for capsaicin cough reflex sensitivity (C5) assessed in 270 chronic cough patients. Plots presented according to age groups. The box indicates the lower and upper quartile; central line, median value; and points at the end of the whiskers, upper extreme values. P values were determined by a Mann-Whitney test for a difference by gender.

  • Fig. 3 Box-and-whisker plots for total counts of capsaicin-induced coughs during the challenge. Plots presented according to age groups. Box indicates the lower and upper quartile; central line, median value; and points at the end of the whiskers, upper extreme values. P values were determined by a Mann-Whitney test for a difference by gender.


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Allergy Asthma Immunol Res. 2019;11(5):622-631.    doi: 10.4168/aair.2019.11.5.622.

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Chronic cough in Korean adults: a literature review on common comorbidity
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Asia Pac Allergy. 2016;6(4):198-206.    doi: 10.5415/apallergy.2016.6.4.198.

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Asia Pac Allergy. 2017;7(4):185-192.    doi: 10.5415/apallergy.2017.7.4.185.

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