Recurrent Cough in the Elderly: A Forgotten Entity

Abstract

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.

Keywords: Chronic cough; Epidemiology; Quality of life; Recurrent cough; Risk factors.

Conflict of interest statement

JTK has received grants from Kuopion Seudun Hengityssäätiö, Hengityssairauksien Tutkimussäätiö, Suomen Tuberkuloosin vastustamisyhdistyksen Säätiö, Väinö ja Laina Kiven Säätiö, and Suomen Kulttuurirahasto foundations. AML has received grants from Kuopion Seudun Hengityssäätiö, Hengityssairauksien Tutkimussäätiö, KYS:n Tutkimussäätiö, Suomen Tuberkuloosin Vastustamisyhdistyksen Säätiö, and Väinö ja Laina Kiven Säätiö Foundations, meeting attendance support from Boehringer Ingelheim and Novartis, and payment for lectures/group input meetings from Farmasian oppimiskeskus, Hengitysliitto, Duodecim, MSD, Chiesi and GlaxoSmithKline. HOK has received grants from Kuopion Seudun Hengityssäätiö and Hengityssairauksien Tutkimussäätiö Foundations, payments for lectures from Boehringer Ingelheim and MSD, and owns shares of a medical company Orion. The authors have no other financial or non-financial competing interests.

© 2023. The Author(s).

Figures

Fig. 1

Flow chart

Fig. 2

Percentages of cough background disorders among subjects with recurrent cough (n = 222) and isolated chronic cough (n = 265)

Fig. 3

Percentages of cough-related doctor`s visits and depressive symptoms among subjects with recurrent cough (n = 222) and isolated chronic cough (n = 265)