Abstract：
BACKGROUND: Chronic cough is one of the most common symptoms of respiratory diseases and can adversely affect patients\' quality of life and interfere with social activities, resulting in a significant social burden. A survey is required to elucidate the frequency and treatment effect of chronic cough. However, clinical studies that cover all of Japan have not yet been conducted.
METHODS: Patients who presented with a cough that lasted longer than 8 weeks and visited the respiratory clinics or hospitals affiliated with the Japan Cough Society during the 2-year study period were registered.
RESULTS: A total of 379 patients were enrolled, and those who did not meet the definition of chronic cough were excluded. A total of 334 patients were analyzed: 201 patients had a single cause, and 113 patients had two or more causes. The main causative diseases were cough variant asthma in 92 patients, sinobronchial syndrome (SBS) in 36 patients, atopic cough in 31 patients, and gastroesophageal reflux (GER)-associated cough in 10 patients. The time required to treat undiagnosed patients and those with SBS was significantly longer and the treatment success rate for GER-associated cough was considerably poor.
CONCLUSIONS: We confirmed that the main causes of chronic cough were cough variant asthma, SBS, atopic cough, and their complications. We also showed that complicated GER-associated cough was more likely to become refractory. This is the first nationwide study in Japan of the causes and treatment effects of chronic cough.
METHODS: Patients who presented with a cough that lasted longer than 8 weeks and visited the respiratory clinics or hospitals affiliated with the Japan Cough Society during the 2-year study period were registered.
RESULTS: A total of 379 patients were enrolled, and those who did not meet the definition of chronic cough were excluded. A total of 334 patients were analyzed: 201 patients had a single cause, and 113 patients had two or more causes. The main causative diseases were cough variant asthma in 92 patients, sinobronchial syndrome (SBS) in 36 patients, atopic cough in 31 patients, and gastroesophageal reflux (GER)-associated cough in 10 patients. The time required to treat undiagnosed patients and those with SBS was significantly longer and the treatment success rate for GER-associated cough was considerably poor.
CONCLUSIONS: We confirmed that the main causes of chronic cough were cough variant asthma, SBS, atopic cough, and their complications. We also showed that complicated GER-associated cough was more likely to become refractory. This is the first nationwide study in Japan of the causes and treatment effects of chronic cough.
摘要：
背景：慢性咳嗽是呼吸系统疾病最常见的症状之一，可对患者的生活质量产生不利影响，并干扰社交活动，造成了巨大的社会负担。需要进行调查以阐明慢性咳嗽的频率和治疗效果。然而,覆盖整个日本的临床研究尚未进行。
方法：在2年的研究期间，出现持续超过8周的咳嗽并到日本咳嗽协会附属的呼吸诊所或医院就诊的患者进行登记。
结果：共纳入379例患者，不符合慢性咳嗽定义的患者被排除.总共分析了334例患者：201例患者有一个单一的原因，113名患者有两种或两种以上原因。主要病因为咳嗽变异性哮喘92例,36例患者的鼻窦支气管综合征（SBS），31例特应性咳嗽，胃食管反流（GER）相关性咳嗽10例。治疗未确诊患者和SBS患者所需的时间明显更长，GER相关咳嗽的治疗成功率相当低。
结论：我们证实慢性咳嗽的主要原因是咳嗽变异性哮喘，SBS,特应性咳嗽,和他们的并发症。我们还表明，复杂的GER相关性咳嗽更有可能变得难治性。这是日本第一个关于慢性咳嗽的原因和治疗效果的全国性研究。
方法：在2年的研究期间，出现持续超过8周的咳嗽并到日本咳嗽协会附属的呼吸诊所或医院就诊的患者进行登记。
结果：共纳入379例患者，不符合慢性咳嗽定义的患者被排除.总共分析了334例患者：201例患者有一个单一的原因，113名患者有两种或两种以上原因。主要病因为咳嗽变异性哮喘92例,36例患者的鼻窦支气管综合征（SBS），31例特应性咳嗽，胃食管反流（GER）相关性咳嗽10例。治疗未确诊患者和SBS患者所需的时间明显更长，GER相关咳嗽的治疗成功率相当低。
结论：我们证实慢性咳嗽的主要原因是咳嗽变异性哮喘，SBS,特应性咳嗽,和他们的并发症。我们还表明，复杂的GER相关性咳嗽更有可能变得难治性。这是日本第一个关于慢性咳嗽的原因和治疗效果的全国性研究。
