title: A prospective, multicenter survey on causes of chronic cough in China.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The causes of chronic cough in China and its relations with geography, seasonality, age, and sex are largely uncertain.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective, multicenter survey was conducted to evaluate patients with chronic cough across five regions in China by using a modified diagnostic algorithm. The effects of geography, seasonality, age, and sex on spectrum of chronic cough were also investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The current study evaluated 704 adult patients, including 315 men (44.7%) and 389 women (55.3%). The causes of chronic cough were determined in 640 subjects (90.9%). Common causes included cough variant asthma (CVA) (32.6%), upper airway cough syndrome (UACS) (18.6%), eosinophilic bronchitis (EB) (17.2%), and atopic cough (AC) (13.2%). Collectively, these four causes accounted for 75.2% to 87.6% across five different regions without significant difference (P &gt; .05), although there was variation on single causes. Gastroesophageal reflux-related cough was identified in 4.6% of causes. Seasonality, sex, and age were not associated with the spectrum of chronic cough (all P &gt; .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CVA, UACS, EB, and AC were common causes of chronic cough in China. Geography, seasonality, age, and sex were not associated with the spectrum of chronic cough.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Diseases, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong.
authors.forename: Kefang
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Diseases, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong.
authors.forename: Ruchong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing.
authors.forename: Jiangtao
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Beijing Institute of Respiratory Medicine, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing.
authors.forename: Kewu
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang.
authors.forename: Huahao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: First Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning.
authors.forename: Lingfei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.affiliation: Shanghai First People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: First People's Hospital of Foshan, Foshan, Guangdong.
authors.forename: Zhiyang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: First Affiliated Hospital of Medical College of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shanxi.
authors.forename: Lan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: West China Hospital, West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
authors.forename: Fuqiang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Diseases, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong. Electronic address: Chinananshan@vip.163.com.
authors.forename: Nanshan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zhong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology; D001991:Bronchitis / Q000453:epidemiology; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003371:Cough / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012621:Seasons; D012737:Sex Factors