Clinic for Gynecology and Obstetrics, Department of Endocrinology, Reproductive Medicine and Osteology, University Hospital Gießen and Marburg, Philipps-University of Marburg, Baldingerstrasse 1, 35043, Marburg, Germany.
University Hospital Gießen and Marburg, 35043, Marburg, Germany.
BMC Womens Health. 2023 Mar 8;23(1):93. doi: 10.1186/s12905-023-02225-2.
Postmenopausal women often have chronic cough. Hormonal changes might be affecting lung function and the mucous membrane of the airways, causing hypersensitivity of the cough reflex. Therefore, postmenopausal hormonal changes could play a key role in the association between increased cough and menopause. The aim of this study is to evaluate the relation of chronic cough and postmenopausal symptoms.
We performed a questionnaire-based cohort study in generally healthy postmenopausal women (age 45-65 years). Women with cough explained by a pre-existing diagnosis were excluded. Comorbidities, medication and baseline data were collected. The Menopause Rating Scale II (MRS II) was combined with the Leicester Cough Questionnaire. Groups were divided in chronic cough versus non-coughing participants, chronic cough was defined as symptoms over 8 weeks. We performed correlations and logistic regression for predicting cough based on postmenopausal symptoms.
Sixty-six of 200 women (33%) reported symptoms of chronic cough over 8 weeks. No significant differences in baseline data (age, BMI, onset of menopause, years since menopause, concomitant diseases, and medication) were found between coughing and non-coughing women. The MRS II showed higher menopausal symptoms in patients with cough, with significant differences in 2 of the 3 MRS-domains (urogenital (p < 0.001) and somato-vegetative (p < 0.001)). Climacteric symptoms correlated strongly with parameters of cough (p < 0.001). On the basis of the MRS total score (p < 0.001) and the somato-vegetative and urogenital domains (p < 0.05), the prediction for respiratory complaints could be shown.
Chronic cough was significantly associated with menopausal symptoms. Therefore chronic cough as a possible climacteric symptom and its underlying mechanisms should be further explored.
绝经后女性常患有慢性咳嗽。激素变化可能影响肺部功能和气道黏膜，导致咳嗽反射过敏。因此，绝经后激素变化可能在咳嗽增加与绝经之间的关联中起关键作用。本研究旨在评估慢性咳嗽与绝经后症状的关系。
我们对一般健康的绝经后女性（45-65 岁）进行了基于问卷的队列研究。排除因先前诊断而引起咳嗽的女性。收集合并症、用药和基线数据。采用绝经评定量表 II（MRS II）和莱斯特咳嗽问卷进行评估。根据慢性咳嗽的有无将参与者分为两组，慢性咳嗽定义为持续 8 周以上的症状。我们对基于绝经症状预测咳嗽的相关性和逻辑回归进行了分析。
200 名女性中有 66 名（33%）报告了持续 8 周以上的慢性咳嗽症状。咳嗽组和非咳嗽组在基线数据（年龄、BMI、绝经年龄、绝经年限、合并症和用药）方面无显著差异。MRS II 显示咳嗽患者的绝经症状更明显，其中 3 个 MRS 领域中的 2 个（泌尿生殖系统（p<0.001）和躯体-植物神经（p<0.001））有显著差异。绝经期症状与咳嗽参数密切相关（p<0.001）。基于 MRS 总分（p<0.001）和躯体-植物神经及泌尿生殖系统领域（p<0.05），可预测呼吸投诉。
慢性咳嗽与绝经症状显著相关。因此，慢性咳嗽可能是一种绝经期症状，其潜在机制应进一步探讨。
