Retrospective Study of the Effects of Post-nasal Drip Symptoms on Cough Duration

Abstract

Background/aim: The aim of this study was to elucidate the significance of allergic rhinitis and post-nasal drip symptoms in patients with cough-variant and cough-predominant asthma.

Patients and methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 91 patients who had cough-variant or cough-predominant asthma and first visited the Nakajima Medical Clinic in Japan between June 2012 and July 2015.

Results: Post-nasal drip symptoms were reported in 58 (63.7%) patients. The patients with post-nasal drip symptoms (19.5±8.3 days) had a significantly longer time until cough disappearance than those without post-nasal drip symptoms (11.0±4.8 days) (p=0.000034). Multivariate analysis showed that post-nasal drip symptoms are independent prolonged factors of cough duration.

Conclusion: Post-nasal drip symptoms may affect cough control in patients with cough-variant and cough-predominant asthma.

Keywords: Allergic rhinitis; cough-variant asthma and cough-predominant asthma; post-nasal drip symptom.