Long-Term Prognosis of Adult Patients with Persistent Cough Post COVID-19 and Its Risk Factors: A Nationwide Prospective Study.

BACKGROUND

There are few data regarding the duration, long-term prognosis of persistent cough post coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The break of COVID-19 Omicron mutant infection provides an opportunity to investigate the long-term outcome of postinfectious cough and its risk factors.

METHODS

In this multicenter prospective study, we recruited patients aged ≥ 18 years with cough duration ≥ 3 weeks after COVID-19 infection during early stage of 2023 in respiratory clinics, cough assessments and laboratory investigations were conducted. Patients underwent two follow-up visits at 12 weeks and 52 weeks.

RESULTS

A total of 1650 patients were enrolled, with an average age of 42.2 ± 14.4 years and 63.3% females. According to follow-up visits, the cough duration was 12 (8,20) weeks, and chronic cough occurred in 68.4%. Cough relieved in 90.8% within 32 weeks. At baseline, sputum eosinophilia (≥ 2.5%) was found in 21.8% (46/211) patients, fractional exhaled nitric oxide level (≥ 25 ppb) elevated in 33.9% (176/519). In addition, 17.2% (73/425) of patients showed bronchial hyperresponsiveness. Cough hypersensitivity was found in 72.5% (37/55) for capsaicin and 63.2% (48/76) for adenosine triphosphate. Multivariate cox regression analysis showed that being older (P = 0.007), higher cough VAS (P < 0.001; P = 0.001), higher CET score (P < 0.001; P = 0.03), and comorbidities (P = 0.043) were associated with chronic cough.

CONCLUSION

In adult patients with COVID-19 Omicron infection, cough lasted for more than 8 weeks in over two thirds, and relieved within 32 weeks in majority of patients. Being older, worse cough severity, and comorbidities are the risk factors of developing chronic cough.

CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRY: ClinicalTrials.gov; No.: NCT06951321.