Cough Sensitivity to Several External Triggers is Associated with Multiple Non-respiratory Symptoms

Purpose Enhanced responsiveness to external triggers is thought to reflect hypersensitivity of the cough reflex. It may involve an enhanced sensitivity of the afferent nerves in the airways and/or an abnormal processing of the afferent information by the central nervous system (CNS). The CNS processing of cough has been shown to involve the same regions as those in symptom amplification, a phenomenon that often manifests as multiple symptoms. The main purpose of the present study was to define whether the presence of several cough triggers is associated with multiple symptoms. Methods 2131 subjects with current cough responding to two email surveys filled in a comprehensive questionnaire about social background, lifestyle, general health, doctors’ diagnoses and visits, symptoms, and medication. Multiple symptoms was defined as three or more non-respiratory, non-mental symptoms. Results A carefully controlled multiple regression analysis revealed that the number of cough triggers was the only cough characteristic associating with multiple non-respiratory, non-mental symptoms [aOR 1.15 (1.12–1.19) per one trigger, p