Epidemiology of unexplained chronic cough in adults: a population-based study
Johnmary T. Arinze, Tjeerd van der Veer, Daniël Bos, Bruno H. Stricker, Katia Verhamme, Guy Brusselle
Abstract
Chronic cough is defined in adults as a cough that lasts for more than eight weeks [1]. It affects 2% to 18% of adults and is commonly associated with smoking and medical conditions such as asthma and COPD [2]. Importantly, rather than being a symptom of underlying disease, unexplained chronic cough (UCC) may exist as a distinct entity characterized by neural hypersensitivity and neuro-immune dysfunction, also known as cough hypersensitivity syndrome [3]. UCC has significant psychosocial impact on patients [4] and it is difficult to treat [5]. Footnotes This manuscript has recently been accepted for publication in the ERJ Open Research . It is published here in its accepted form prior to copyediting and typesetting by our production team. After these production processes are complete and the authors have approved the resulting proofs, the article will move to the latest issue of the ERJOR online. Please open or download the PDF to view this article. Conflicts of interest: Guy G. Brusselle reports grants or contracts from Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD) research grant for investigator-initiated study, outside the submitted work. Conflicts of interest: Johnmary T. Arinze reports grants or contracts from Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD) doctoral research grant, outside the submitted work. Conflicts of interest: The remaining authors have nothing to disclose.