The role of cough in severe asthma

Measures of cough-related quality of life are associated with measures of asthma control and can identify patients with inadequate asthma control. Cough measurement tools are suitable for repeated use within severe asthma. There appears to be a lack of significant levels of cough morbidity in patients where there is no evidence of raised Type 2 (T2) inflammation.

Cough is an important symptom for patients with both severe and mild/moderate asthma and patients are willing to accept some additional asthma symptoms in order to reduce their cough burden.<br><br>Conclusions: <br>A significant level of cough morbidity can be identified in patients with asthma, even when not selecting for the symptom of cough. The use of cough measurement tools in asthma may provide additional insight into asthma control, quality of life and disease burden.

However, as a significant level of cough burden was not observed in patients with low biomarkers of T2-inflammation, cough may not be suitable as a separate treatable trait in severe asthma. A logical first step for treating cough in severe asthma may be to achieve adequate suppression of T2 inflammation.