Kefang Lai1, Ruchong Chen1, Jiangtao Lin2, Kewu Huang3, Huahao Shen4, Lingfei Kong5, Xin Zhou6, Zhiyang Luo7, Lan Yang8, Fuqiang Wen9, Nanshan Zhong10. 1. State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Diseases, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong. 2. China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing. 3. Beijing Institute of Respiratory Medicine, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing. 4. Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang. 5. First Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning. 6. Shanghai First People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai. 7. First People's Hospital of Foshan, Foshan, Guangdong. 8. First Affiliated Hospital of Medical College of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shanxi. 9. West China Hospital, West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China. 10. State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Diseases, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong. Electronic address: Chinananshan@vip.163.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The causes of chronic cough in China and its relations with geography, seasonality, age, and sex are largely uncertain. METHODS: A prospective, multicenter survey was conducted to evaluate patients with chronic cough across five regions in China by using a modified diagnostic algorithm. The effects of geography, seasonality, age, and sex on spectrum of chronic cough were also investigated. RESULTS: The current study evaluated 704 adult patients, including 315 men (44.7%) and 389 women (55.3%). The causes of chronic cough were determined in 640 subjects (90.9%). Common causes included cough variant asthma (CVA) (32.6%), upper airway cough syndrome (UACS) (18.6%), eosinophilic bronchitis (EB) (17.2%), and atopic cough (AC) (13.2%). Collectively, these four causes accounted for 75.2% to 87.6% across five different regions without significant difference (P > .05), although there was variation on single causes. Gastroesophageal reflux-related cough was identified in 4.6% of causes. Seasonality, sex, and age were not associated with the spectrum of chronic cough (all P > .05). CONCLUSION: CVA, UACS, EB, and AC were common causes of chronic cough in China. Geography, seasonality, age, and sex were not associated with the spectrum of chronic cough.
BACKGROUND: The causes of chronic cough in China and its relations with geography, seasonality, age, and sex are largely uncertain. METHODS: A prospective, multicenter survey was conducted to evaluate patients with chronic cough across five regions in China by using a modified diagnostic algorithm. The effects of geography, seasonality, age, and sex on spectrum of chronic cough were also investigated. RESULTS: The current study evaluated 704 adult patients, including 315 men (44.7%) and 389 women (55.3%). The causes of chronic cough were determined in 640 subjects (90.9%). Common causes included cough variant asthma (CVA) (32.6%), upper airway cough syndrome (UACS) (18.6%), eosinophilic bronchitis (EB) (17.2%), and atopic cough (AC) (13.2%). Collectively, these four causes accounted for 75.2% to 87.6% across five different regions without significant difference (P > .05), although there was variation on single causes. Gastroesophageal reflux-related cough was identified in 4.6% of causes. Seasonality, sex, and age were not associated with the spectrum of chronic cough (all P > .05). CONCLUSION:CVA, UACS, EB, and AC were common causes of chronic cough in China. Geography, seasonality, age, and sex were not associated with the spectrum of chronic cough.