Abstract

Why do only some of patients who are prescribed angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE-I) develop cough? The pathogenesis of ACE-I-induced cough remains controversial and requires further studies. We aim to investigate whether asthma is a contributing cause of ACE-I-induced cough. Patients attending a cardiology clinic between March 2016 and March 2017 who were diagnosed with ACE-I induced cough were included in this study. ACE-I-induced cough was defined as cough which developed within 4 weeks after initiation of ACE-I therapy and which improved within 4 weeks after discontinuation of the ACE-I. Patients who had received ACE-I treatment for at least 6 months without side effects were included in the study as a control group. Face-to-face questionnaires, pulmonary function tests (PFT) and skin prick tests were applied to all the patients. If there was discordance between asthma history and PFT results, a methacholine bronchial provocation test (BPT) was performed. A total of 43 patients with ACE-I induce cough were compared with 50 controls. Bronchial hyperreactivity (BHR), rhinitis, atopy and family history of asthma were more frequent in patients with ACE-I induced cough (P < .001). Patients with ACE-I-induced cough had significantly higher incidence of diagnosed asthma [OR=8.28 (95%CI: 3.26-21.03) P < .001]. Asthma and an atopic background constitute a substantial risk factor for ACE-I induced cough. The presence of underlying asthma should be investigated in patients diagnosed with ACE inhibitor induced cough. However, the fact that most asthma patients tolerate ACE-I therapy, indicates that other cofactors are likely involved.

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