Introduction

Recurrent cough is little researched in adults. We investigated the prevalence, risk factors, and consequences of recurrent cough, and compared the results to those of isolated chronic cough.

Methods

Cross-sectional email survey in an elderly community-based population. Recurrent cough was defined as ≥ 3 cough episodes within one year (each lasting ≥ 1 week) and no current chronic cough. Isolated chronic cough was defined as current cough lasting ≥ 8 weeks and no recurrent cough.

Results

The prevalence of recurrent cough was 3.8% among all respondents (n = 5983). Recurrent cough was associated with asthma (aOR 3.32 (95% CI 2.13–5.18)), chronic rhinosinusitis (2.91 (1.89–4.46)), family history of chronic cough (2.59 (1.88–3.56)), analgesic intolerance (2.13 (1.27–3.57)), male gender (1.92 (1.39–2.66)), gastro-esophageal reflux disease (1.73 (1.21–2.47)), obstructive sleep apnoea (1.69 (1.23–2.32)), symptom sum (1.12 per symptom (1.03–1.22)), and younger age (0.96 per year (0.93–1.00)).

Isolated chronic cough was associated with chronic rhinosinusitis (3.45 (2.39–4.97)), asthma (2.17 (1.38–3.41), gastro-esophageal reflux disease (1.80 (1.32–2.47)), family history of chronic cough (1.80 (1.35–2.41)), obstructive sleep apnoea (1.49 (1.12–2.00)), symptom sum (1.18 per symptom (1.10–1.27)), and body mass index (0.96 per unit (0.93–1.00)).

Among subjects with recurrent and isolated chronic cough, the prevalence of depressive symptoms were 7.7% and 4.2%, p = 0.11, the Leicester Cough Questionnaire total scores 15.2 (14.6–15.8) and 16.3 (16.0–16.6), P = 0.001, and the mean number of yearly cough-related doctor`s visits 0.58 (0.45–0.71) and 0.36 (0.19–0.53), P = 0.007, respectively.

Conclusion

The risk factors and consequences of recurrent and isolated chronic cough were comparable. Recurrent cough seems beneficial to address in cough evaluation.

中文翻译：

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老年人反复咳嗽：一个被遗忘的实体

介绍

对成人反复咳嗽的研究很少。我们调查了反复咳嗽的患病率、危险因素和后果，并将结果与​​单纯慢性咳嗽的结果进行了比较。

方法

针对老年人社区人群的横断面电子邮件调查。反复咳嗽定义为一年内咳嗽发作≥3次（每次持续≥1周）且当前无慢性咳嗽。孤立性慢性咳嗽定义为当前咳嗽持续≥8周且无反复咳嗽。

结果

所有受访者中反复咳嗽的患病率为 3.8% ( n  = 5983)。反复咳嗽与哮喘 (aOR 3.32 (95% CI 2.13–5.18))、慢性鼻窦炎 (2.91 (1.89–4.46))、慢性咳嗽家族史 (2.59 (1.88–3.56))、镇痛不耐受 (2.13 (1.27) –3.57))，男性 (1.92 (1.39–2.66))，胃食管反流病 (1.73 (1.21–2.47))，阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停 (1.69 (1.23–2.32))，症状总和（每个症状 1.12 (1.03 –1.22))，以及较年轻的年龄（每年 0.96 (0.93–1.00))。

孤立性慢性咳嗽与慢性鼻窦炎（3.45（2.39–4.97））、哮喘（2.17（1.38–3.41））、胃食管反流病（1.80（1.32–2.47））、慢性咳嗽家族史（1.80（1.35– 2.41))、阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停 (1.49 (1.12–2.00))、症状总和 (每个症状 1.18 (1.10–1.27)) 和体重指数 (每单位 0.96 (0.93–1.00))。

在反复发作和孤立性慢性咳嗽的受试者中，抑郁症状的患病率分别为 7.7% 和 4.2%，p  = 0.11，莱斯特咳嗽问卷总分为 15.2 (14.6–15.8) 和 16.3 (16.0–16.6)，P  = 0.001，并且每年因咳嗽相关就诊的平均次数分别为 0.58 (0.45–0.71) 和 0.36 (0.19–0.53)，P  = 0.007。

结论

复发性慢性咳嗽和孤立性慢性咳嗽的危险因素和后果具有可比性。反复咳嗽似乎有利于咳嗽评估。