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Relation between measurements of cough severity
A B Chang1, P D Phelan, C F Robertson
1Department of Respiratory Medicine, Royal Children's Hospital Foundation, Brisbane, Australia. annechang@ausdoctors.net
Archives of Disease in Childhood
|December 24, 2002
Summary
In children, cough sensitivity measures show a weak link to cough frequency, while subjective cough scores offer a more consistent relationship. These different indices capture various aspects of cough severity.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Respiratory Medicine
Background:
- Asthma severity markers correlate poorly with airway inflammation.
- The relationship between asthma severity determinants and cough is not well understood.
- This study investigates the link between cough sensitivity and objective/subjective cough measures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the relationship between common outcome measures of cough severity in pediatric patients.
- To determine how cough sensitivity relates to objectively measured cough frequency and subjective cough scores.
Main Methods:
- 40 children with recurrent cough were assessed on two occasions.
- Capsaicin concentration for two (C2) and five (C5) coughs, ambulatory cough meter readings, and parent/child cough scores were recorded.
- Statistical analysis explored correlations between these measures.
Main Results:
- Initially, cough frequency correlated with subjective cough scores and inversely with C2.
- Subjective scores did not correlate with C2 or C5.
- Over time, cough frequency's relation to C2/C5 weakened, though C5 changes correlated with cough frequency.
Conclusions:
- Cough sensitivity measures have a limited association with cough frequency in children.
- Subjective cough scores demonstrate a stronger, consistent relationship with cough frequency.
- Different cough severity indices assess distinct aspects, guiding the choice of measurement based on study goals.