Retrospective Analysis of the Starting Dose of Combined ICS/LABA for Cough-variant Asthma and Cough-predominant Asthma.

Abstract

Although the usefulness of inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting β2 agonists (ICS/LABA) in cough-variant asthma and cough-predominant asthma has been reported, there is no consensus on its starting dose. The aim of this study is to find the optimal dose of ICS/LABA for cough-variant asthma and cough-predominant asthma. We analysed 112 patients who visited our clinic from January 2009 to December 2012 with the chief complaint of cough that had continued for more than 3 weeks. Cough-variant asthma (n=30) and cough-predominant asthma (n=7) were treated with ICS/LABA. There was no significant difference in cough duration time from starting ICS/LABA in cough-variant asthma and cough-predominant asthma between medium and high doses (14.3% versus 10.9%, respectively) (p=0.192). Moreover, there was no significant difference in cough duration time from starting ICS/LABA in cough-variant asthma between medium and high doses (13.2% versus 11.5%, respectively) (p=0.433). The medium starting dose of ICS/LABA is sufficient for treating cough-variant asthma.