Does bronchial hyperresponsiveness predict a diagnosis of cough variant asthma in adults with chronic cough: a cohort study

• Published in: Respiratory research Vol. 22; no. 1; p. 252
• Main Authors: Rybka-Fraczek, Aleksandra, Dabrowska, Marta, Grabczak, Elzbieta M, Bialek-Gosk, Katarzyna, Klimowicz, Karolina, Truba, Olga, Krenke, Rafal
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 23.09.2021; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Adults; Aged; Anti-Asthmatic Agents - pharmacology; Anti-Asthmatic Agents - therapeutic use; Asthma; Asthma - complications; Asthma - diagnosis; Asthma - drug therapy; Body mass index; Bronchial Hyperreactivity - diagnosis; Bronchial Hyperreactivity - drug therapy; Bronchial Hyperreactivity - etiology; Bronchial hyperresponsiveness; Bronchial Provocation Tests - methods; Capsaicin; Chronic Disease; Cohort Studies; Cough; Cough - diagnosis; Cough - drug therapy; Cough - etiology; Development and progression; Diagnosis; Drug therapy; Dyspnea; Female; Formoterol; Gastroesophageal reflux; Humans; Letter to the Editor; Male; Methacholine; Middle Aged; Montelukast; Neutrophils; Patients; Predictive Value of Tests; Prednisone; Prospective Studies; Quality of life; Smoking; Spirometry; Statistical analysis; Steroids; Testing; Poland; United States > US; Bronchial hyperresponsiveness; Cough; Asthma
• ISSN: 1465-993X; 1465-9921; 1465-993X; 1465-9921
• DOI: 10.1186/s12931-021-01845-2

Bronchial hyperresponsiveness is a typical, but non-specific feature of cough variant asthma (CVA). This study aimed to determine whether bronchial hyperresponsiveness may be considered as a predictor of CVA in non-smoking adults with chronic cough (CC). The study included 55 patients with CC and bronchial hyperresponsiveness confirmed in the methacholine provocation test, in whom an anti-asthmatic, gradually intensified treatment was introduced. The diagnosis of CVA was established if the improvement in cough severity and cough-related quality of life in LCQ were noted.The study showed a high positive predictive value of bronchial hyperresponsiveness in this population. Cough severity and cough related quality of life were not related to the severity of bronchial hyperresponsiveness in CVA patients. A poor treatment outcome was related to a low baseline capsaicin threshold and the occurrence of gastroesophageal reflux-related symptoms. In conclusion, bronchial hyperresponsiveness could be considered as a predictor of cough variant asthma in non-smoking adults with CC.