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Sex Differences in Chronic Cough Epidemiology: The Korean Cough Study Group.
- Source :
-
Journal of Korean medical science [J Korean Med Sci] 2024 Oct 07; Vol. 39 (38), pp. e273. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Oct 07. - Publication Year :
- 2024
-
Abstract
- Background: Chronic cough is a common symptom encountered by healthcare practitioners. The global prevalence of chronic cough is 9.6%, with a female predominance. The aim of our study is to reveal the sex differences in prevalence and severity of chronic cough in South Korea, stratified by age and etiology.<br />Methods: This study included adult patients with chronic cough who were recruited from 19 respiratory centers in South Korea. Patients completed the cough numeric rating scale (NRS) and COugh Assessment Test (COAT) questionnaire to assess the severity and multidimensional impact of cough.<br />Results: Among the 625 patients, 419 (67.0%) were females, with a male-to-female ratio of 1:2.03. The mean age was 49.4 years, and the median duration of cough was 12 weeks. The mean NRS and COAT scores were 5.5 ± 1.8 and 9.5 ± 3.6, respectively. Female patients were older (45.3 ± 15.4 vs. 51.6 ± 15.2, P < 0.001) and more likely to have asthma/cough variant asthma (CVA) (26.7% vs. 40.8%, P = 0.001) than male patients. There was no difference in the duration or severity of cough between sexes, regardless of the cause. The male-to-female ratio was lower for upper airway cough syndrome (UACS), asthma/CVA, and gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD), but not for eosinophilic bronchitis (EB) or unexplained cough. The mean age of female patients was higher in UACS and asthma/CVA, but not in EB, GERD, or unexplained cough. The majority (24.2%) fell within the age category of 50s. The proportion of females with cough increased with age, with a significant rise in the 50s, 60s, and 70-89 age groups. The severity of cough decreased in the 50s, 60s, and 70-89 age groups, with no significant sex differences within the same age group.<br />Conclusion: The sex disparities in prevalence and severity of cough varied significantly depending on the age category and etiology. Understanding the specific sex-based difference could enhance comprehension of cough-related pathophysiology and treatment strategies.<br />Competing Interests: The authors have no potential conflicts of interest to disclose.<br /> (© 2024 The Korean Academy of Medical Sciences.)
- Subjects :
- Humans
Female
Male
Middle Aged
Republic of Korea epidemiology
Adult
Chronic Disease
Aged
Surveys and Questionnaires
Prevalence
Sex Factors
Severity of Illness Index
Asthma epidemiology
Asthma diagnosis
Asthma complications
Gastroesophageal Reflux epidemiology
Gastroesophageal Reflux diagnosis
Age Factors
Chronic Cough
Cough epidemiology
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1598-6357
- Volume :
- 39
- Issue :
- 38
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Journal of Korean medical science
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 39376190
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2024.39.e273