People with obesity might have a greater risk of chronic cough. A study recently evaluated the risk and impact of chronic cough among obese individuals from the general population.

Investigators assessed chronic cough, body mass index (BMI) and other related clinical conditions among 44 554 adults included in the Copenhagen General Population Study. People who has asthma and/or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were excluded from the study (n=10 977). Investigators segregated BMI into: underweight (BMI <18.5 kg/m2), normal weight (18.5-24.9 kg/m2), overweight (25.0-29.9 kg/m2), obese (30.0-34.9 kg/m2) and severely obese (≥35.0 kg/m2).

Findings from the study –

• Among 33 577 individuals from the general population, 27 829 (83%) were found to be non-obese while 5748 (17%) were obese.
• In comparison with people with normal weight, multivariable adjusted ORs for the risk of chronic cough were 1.4 (95% CI 1.2 to 1.6) in overweight individuals, 1.9 (95% CI 1.7 to 2.2) in obese people and 2.6 (95% CI 2.1 to 3.2) in severely obese individuals.
• Mediation analyses suggested that chronic cough caused by obesity was mediated by gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) by up to 23%.
• Other mediators werereduced consumption of vegetables with 10% and occupational exposure with 8%.
• Among obese people, those with chronic coughvs. without were found to have worse accompanying respiratory symptoms, more frequent comorbidities such as GERD and diabetes, greater healthcare utilization, lower lung function and increased blood inflammation.

To summarize -

• A dose-response relationship was noted between BMI and chronic cough.
• Chronic cough risk appears to be two to three times higher in obese individuals from the general population.
• The increased risk was mediated in part by GERD, low vegetable intake and occupational exposure.

Reference

Landt EM, Çolak Y, Nordestgaard BG, et al. Risk and impact of chronic cough in obese individuals from the general population.Thorax. 2021 Jul 6;thoraxjnl-2020-216351.