Chronic cough is one of the most frequent reasons people seek medical help, particularly affecting middle-aged women. Recent research suggests this condition may have a genetic component.
Chronic cough ranks among the top reasons for medical consultations, notably impacting middle-aged women. Recent studies from Uppsala University indicate that this condition could be hereditary. These findings have been published in ERJ Open Research and PLOS ONE.
“More than 10% of the population suffers from chronic cough, which can lead to various negative outcomes such as a lower quality of life, diminished work capacity, and voice issues. Currently, our understanding of the causes of coughing and its effective treatments is limited,” states Össur Ingi Emilsson, a lecturer in Lung, Allergy, and Sleep Research at Uppsala University’s Department of Medical Sciences.
Two recent studies from the department have explored how chronic cough is managed within Swedish healthcare as well as its potential hereditary nature. One study analyzed data from the Swedish healthcare register, revealing that between 2016 and 2018, about one to two percent of the Swedish population sought care for chronic cough, primarily in primary care settings. Most patients reported having a persistent cough, with the highest numbers found among women aged 40 to 60; approximately 21,000 women sought treatment for cough during these three years.
“Women tend to have a more sensitive cough reflex, meaning that the threshold for what is considered an abnormal cough is lower for them than for men. I was surprised to find that only one to two percent of patients reach out for help regarding a bothersome cough, when over ten percent are affected. This might be partly due to the lack of effective treatments available. Additionally, there are some variations in care practices across different regions, indicating a need for improved guidelines for the diagnosis and management of chronic cough,” Emilsson continues.
Another study from the same research group has uncovered a potential reason why some people develop chronic cough. It appears to have a hereditary aspect. In a large population study conducted in northern Europe, involving 7,155 parents and their 8,176 adult children aged 20 and above, findings revealed that if one parent had chronic dry cough, their children were over 50% more likely to experience chronic dry cough themselves. Notably, this association held true even when accounting for factors such as asthma, gender, and smoking.
“A similar association was observed for productive cough, although smoking had a more significant role in those cases. These findings suggest a genetic connection to chronic cough,” Emilsson adds.
The research team has initiated a treatment study focused on chronic cough. Building on these new insights, they are now pursuing studies on genetic variants in partnership with the Icelandic company deCODE genetics, which specializes in genomic analysis. The goal is to identify genetic variants that correlate with chronic cough.
“This research could enhance our understanding of chronic cough occurrence, potentially leading to more effective treatments for this challenging condition,” explains Emilsson.
