Determinants of cough in young adults participating in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey

Cough is a common symptom that affects a large proportion of the general po pulation. The aim of this investigation was to identify determinants of noc turnal, nonproductive and productive cough in population samples from diffe rent countries. In a cross-sectional international population survey, 18,277 subjects (20-4 8 yrs) from 16 countries answered an interview-led questionnaire. Total and specific immunoglobulin-E was measured and spirometry was performed. Three types of cough were defined: nocturnal, nonproductive and productive cough . The relation of the independent variables to cough was estimated by means of logistic regression for each centre or country and combined across cent re or country by random-effects meta-analysis. The median prevalence of nocturnal, nonproductive and productive cough in t he different centres was 30.7%, 10.2% and 10.2%, respectively. Nocturnal an d nonproductive cough were related to female sex (adjusted odds ratio (OR)= 2.08 and 1.27, respectively), while nocturnal and productive cough were rel ated to rhinitis (OR=1.46 and 1.61, respectively). All three types of cough were related to asthma, tobacco smoking, environmental tobacco smoke and o besity. Females are more likely to report nocturnal and nonproductive cough than ma les. Cough was related to treatable disorders, like asthma and rhinitis, as well a avoidable. factors, such as tobacco smoking and environmental tobac co smoke.