Defining Chronic Cough: A Systematic Review of the Epidemiological Literature

Cough Hypersensitivity Syndrome: A Few More Steps Forward

Cough reflex is a vital protective mechanism against aspiration, but when dysregulated, it can become hypersensitive. In fact, chronic cough is a significant medical problem with a high degree of morbidity. Recently, a unifying paradigm of cough hypersensitivity syndrome has been proposed. It represents a clinical entity in which chronic cough is a major presenting problem, regardless of the underlying condition. Although it remains a theoretical construct, emerging evidence suggests that aberrant neurophysiology is the common etiology of this syndrome. Recent success in randomized clinical trials using a P2X3 receptor antagonist is the first major advance in the therapeutics of cough in the past 30 years; it at last provides a strategy for treating intractable cough as well as an invaluable tool for dissecting the mechanism underpinning cough hypersensitivity. Additionally, several cough measurement tools have been validated for use and will help assess the clinical relevance of cough in various underlying conditions. Along with this paradigm shift, our understanding of cough mechanisms has improved during the past decades, allowing us to continue to take more steps forward in the future.

Chronic cough in Korean adults: a literature review on common comorbidity

Chronic cough is a significant medical condition with high prevalence and a strong negative impact on the quality of life. Cough hypersensitivity is thought to underlie chronic cough, with several environmental and host factors interacting to cause neuronal sensitization and chronicity. Comorbid conditions affecting cough reflex pathways, such as upper airway diseases, asthma, and gastroesophageal reflux, play important roles in chronic cough. However, their prevalence may vary in patients living in different geographical regions or with different ethnicities. We conducted a literature review to examine common comorbidities in Korean adult patients with chronic cough, their clinical implications, and the issues that still need to be addressed in the development of clinical evidence of chronic cough in Korean adult patients.

Chronic cough: an Asian perspective. Part 1: Epidemiology

Asia is one of the most diverse and dynamic continents. Due to recent rapid industrialisation and urbanisation, morbidity patterns are likely to be diverse in Asian populations. Chronic cough is a disease condition resulting from host-environmental interactions, and is associated with a high global epidemiological burden. However, the underlying epidemiology remains unclear, particularly in Asia. We performed a literature search to identify peer-reviewed articles on chronic cough in community-based adult Asian populations that have been published between January 2000 and June 2015. In this review, we aim to examine the epidemiological characteristics and determinants of chronic cough in several geographical areas of Asia.