Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 25, 2025
Methods for Detecting Cough and Airway Inflammation in Mice
Published on: August 2, 2024
Association of pruritus and chronic cough: an all of us database study
Divija Sharma1, Juliana Pulsinelli1, Joel Correa da Rosa1
1Department of Dermatology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
Purpose:
Based on a potential shared pathophysiology tied to mast cell activity and neurogenic inflammation that may link pruritus and chronic cough (CC), this study, leveraging the All of Us database, examines the association between the two conditions.
Materials And Methods:
A nested case-control comparison was used to examine the association, identifying cases with SNOMED codes 418363000 (pruritus) and 68154008 (CC). Matching was performed on a 1:4 ratio by age, sex, and ethnicity using the MatchIt package in R, followed by maximum likelihood method to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals from 2x2 contingency tables.
Results:
CC patients (n = 2,388) were more than twice as likely to be diagnosed with pruritus (OR: 2.65) and pruritus patients (n = 22,496) were more than twice as likely to be diagnosed with CC (OR: 2.57), than respective matched controls.
Conclusions:
These results highlight the potential bidirectional relationship between CC and pruritus, suggesting possible shared immune and neural pathways. Treatments like difelikefalin and nalbuphine that modulate these pathways, alongside P2X3 targeting agents, are emerging as potential therapeutic approaches for itch and chronic cough given the possible interconnected pathophysiology. This study's insights into the associations between pruritus and CC may pave the way for targeted therapeutic strategies that address their shared mechanisms.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-IV: Assessement and Diagnostic Studies
Medical History
01:20Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-I: Introduction
01:25Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-III: Symptoms and Complications.
Symptoms of COPD can be classified as primary or systemic. Primary symptoms relate to reduced airflow, while systemic or extrapulmonary symptoms relate to COPD's broader impact on the body.
Primary Symptoms of COPD:
01:23Chronic Pharyngitis
Etiology
It often arises from persistent viral or bacterial infections affecting sinuses and tonsils.
Additional contributing factors include inadequate dental hygiene, mouth breathing, recurring tonsillitis, allergic rhinitis, laryngopharyngeal reflux, and exposure to smoke, chemicals, and other environmental pollutants. Allergic reactions to pollen, mold, and pet dander, chronic cough, excessive voice usage,...
01:22Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Smoking is a primary risk factor for COPD, with over 80% of patients having a history of it. Patients typically experience progressive dyspnea or labored breathing, frequent coughing, and recurrent pulmonary infections. Many eventually succumb to respiratory failure, characterized by...
01:20Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-II: Pathophysiology
Chronic Inflammation