BACKGROUND The intensity and frequency of cough remain unclear in interstitial lung disease (ILD). The aim of this study was to evaluate the intensity and frequency of cough in idiopathic interstitial pneumonias (IIPs), connective tissue disease-associated interstitial lung disease (CTD-ILD), and chronic hypersensitivity pneumonia (CHP), and examine their associations with clinical indices. METHODS In this cross-sectional study, the intensity and frequency of cough were evaluated using a 100-mm visual analogue scale. Scores on the Leicester Cough Questionnaire, chronic dyspnoea scale, and a frequency scale for symptoms of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (FSSG) were collected. The correlations of cough intensity and frequency with potential predictor variables were tested using bivariate and multiple logistic regression analysis. RESULTS The study included 70 patients with IIPs, 49 with CTD-ILD, and 10 with CHP. Patients with IIPs had the most severe cough intensity among the three patient groups. In patients with IIPs, both the intensity and frequency of cough were negatively associated with the diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide and positively with the Composite Physiologic Index (CPI). In CTD-ILD, both the intensity and frequency of cough were correlated with a higher FSSG score. In multivariate analysis of patients with ILD, IIPs and the FSSG score were independently associated with both components of cough, and CPI tended to be independently associated with cough frequency. Finally, we examined the features of the differences between cough intensity and frequency in all patients with ILD. Patients in whom cough frequency was predominant had a greater impairment of health status relative to other patients. CONCLUSIONS Cough intensity was greater in IIPs than in other ILDs. Different clinical indices were associated with patient-reported cough intensity and frequency according to the subtype of ILD. Cough frequency was more strongly associated with health status than was cough intensity. These findings suggest that medical staff could manage patients with ILD by considering cough-related factors when assessing the intensity and frequency of cough.

中文翻译：

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间质性肺疾病患者自我报告的咳嗽强度和频率的临床意义：一项横断面研究。

背景技术在间质性肺病（ILD）中，咳嗽的强度和频率尚不清楚。这项研究的目的是评估特发性间质性肺炎（IIPs），结缔组织疾病相关性间质性肺病（CTD-ILD）和慢性超敏性肺炎（CHP）中咳嗽的强度和频率，并检查其与临床的关系索引。方法在此横断面研究中，使用100毫米视觉模拟量表评估咳嗽的强度和频率。收集莱斯特咳嗽问卷，慢性呼吸困难量表和胃食管反流病（FSSG）症状的频率量表的分数。使用双变量和多元逻辑回归分析测试咳嗽强度和频率与潜在预测变量的相关性。结果该研究包括70例IIP，49例CTD-ILD和10例CHP。在三个患者组中，IIPs患者的咳嗽强度最严重。在IIP患者中，咳嗽的强度和频率与肺对一氧化碳的扩散能力呈负相关，与复合生理指数（CPI）呈正相关。在CTD-ILD中，咳嗽的强度和频率均与较高的FSSG评分相关。在ILD患者的多变量分析中，IIPs和FSSG评分与咳嗽的两个成分均独立相关，而CPI则与咳嗽频率均独立相关。最后，我们检查了所有ILD患者咳嗽强度和频率之间差异的特征。与其他患者相比，以咳嗽频率为主的患者对健康状况的损害更大。结论IIP患者的咳嗽强度高于其他ILD患者。根据ILD的亚型，不同的临床指标与患者报告的咳嗽强度和咳嗽频率有关。与咳嗽强度相比，咳嗽频率与健康状况的相关性更强。这些发现表明，医护人员在评估咳嗽的强度和频率时可以通过考虑与咳嗽相关的因素来治疗ILD患者。与咳嗽强度相比，咳嗽频率与健康状况的相关性更强。这些发现表明，医护人员在评估咳嗽的强度和频率时可以通过考虑与咳嗽相关的因素来治疗ILD患者。与咳嗽强度相比，咳嗽频率与健康状况的相关性更强。这些发现表明，医护人员在评估咳嗽的强度和频率时可以通过考虑与咳嗽相关的因素来治疗ILD患者。