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Reports from individual centres suggest a preponderance of females with chronic cough. Females also have heightened cough reflex sensitivity. Here we have reviewed the age and sex of unselected referrals to 11 cough clinics. To investigate the cause of any observed sex dimorphism, functional magnetic resonance imaging of putative cough centres was analysed in normal volunteers. The demographic profile of consecutive patients presenting with chronic cough was evaluated. Cough challenge with capsaicin was undertaken in normal volunteers to construct a concentration-response curve. Subsequent functional magnetic resonance imaging during repeated inhalation of sub-tussive concentrations of capsaicin observed areas of activation within the brain and differences in the sexes identified. Of the 10,032 patients presenting with chronic cough, two-thirds (6591) were female (mean age 55 years). The patient profile was largely uniform across centres. The most common age for presentation was 60-69 years. The maximum tolerable dose of inhaled capsaicin was lower in females; however, a significantly greater activation of the somatosensory cortex was observed. Patients presenting with chronic cough from diverse racial and geographic backgrounds have a strikingly homogeneous demographic profile, suggesting a distinct clinical entity. The preponderance of females may be explained by sex-related differences in the central processing of cough sensation.

Original publication

DOI

10.1183/09031936.00217813

Type

Journal article

Journal

Eur Respir J

Publication Date

11/2014

Volume

44

Pages

1149 - 1155

Keywords

Administration, Inhalation, Adolescent, Adult, Age Distribution, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Capsaicin, Child, Child, Preschool, Chronic Disease, Cough, Female, Global Health, Healthy Volunteers, Humans, Infant, Infant, Newborn, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Middle Aged, Reflex, Registries, Retrospective Studies, Sex Distribution, Sex Factors, Somatosensory Cortex, Young Adult