Cough hypersensitivity and suppression in COPD

This study investigated the ability of patients with COPD to suppress cough during a cough challenge test in comparison to patients with CRC and healthy subjects. This study also investigated whether cough reflex hypersensitivity is associated with chronic cough in COPD. Participants with COPD (n=27) and CRC (n=11) and healthy subjects (n=13) underwent capsaicin challenge tests with and without attempts to self-suppress cough in a randomised order over two visits, 5 days apart. For patients with COPD, the presence of self-reported chronic cough was documented, and objective 24-h cough frequency was measured. Amongst patients with COPD, those with chronic cough (n=16) demonstrated heightened cough reflex sensitivity compared to those without chronic cough (n=11): geometric mean±sd capsaicin dose thresholds for five coughs (C5) 3.36±6.88 µmol·L–1 versus 44.50±5.90 µmol·L–1, respectively (p=0.003). Participants with CRC also had heightened cough reflex sensitivity compared to healthy participants: geometric mean±sd C5 3.86±5.13 µmol·L–1 versus 45.89±3.95 µmol·L–1, respectively (p<0.001). Participants with COPD were able to suppress capsaicin-evoked cough, regardless of the presence or absence of chronic cough: geometric mean±sd capsaicin dose thresholds for 5 coughs without self-suppression attempts (C5) and with (CS5) were 3.36...
Source: European Respiratory Journal - Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Tags: Respiratory clinical practice Original Articles: Cough Source Type: research