The demographics, clinical characteristics and quality of life of patients with chronic cough from the Isala Cough Clinic in the Netherlands

Introduction Chronic cough affects ∼10% of the population and adversely impacts quality of life. This retrospective observational cohort study aimed to identify the demographics, clinical characteristics and quality of life of the chronic cough population in a Dutch chronic cough clinic, at baseline and following treatment at 6 months. Patients were categorised based on the underlying phenotype and response to treatment. Methods Retrospective data on 2397 patients who were diagnosed according to standard guidelines of the American College of Chest Physicians were analysed. Quality of life was captured via the Leicester Cough Questionnaire, the Cough Numeric Rating Scale and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Results Mean patient age was 59 years; 62.5% of the patients were female; and 69.1% had at least one underlying phenotype associated with chronic cough. Of the latter, 52.1% had bronchial hyperresponsiveness/airflow limitation, 33.3% had airway reflux and 20.1% had upper airway cough syndrome. 46% of patients with a phenotype, and 51% without, experienced no improvement in their quality of life or still had significant cough remaining after 6 months. Of patients with available quality-of-life data, 37.5% were categorised as having refractory chronic cough, and 9.5% were categorised as unexplained chronic cough. Discussion This study highlights the poor quality-of-life outcomes in patients with chronic cough, despite interventions to treat underlying conditions, and indicates a need to manage chronic cough irrespective of phenotype

Poor outcome of SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients with severe asthma on biologic therapy

Background: It is unclear whether asthma and asthma medications increase or decrease the risk of severe COVID-19, and this is particularly true for patients with severe asthma receiving biologics. Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess incidence and disease course of COVID-19 in patients with severe asthma on biologic therapy (omalizumab, mepolizumab, reslizumab, benralizumab, dupilumab), as compared with COVID-19 data from the general Dutch population. Methods: COVID-19 cases were identified through a prospective ongoing survey between March 17 and April 30, 2020 among all severe asthma specialists from 15 hospitals of the Dutch Severe Asthma Registry RAPSODI. From these cases, data was collected on patient characteristics, including co-morbidities, COVID-19 disease progression and asthma exacerbations. Findings were then compared with COVID-19 data from the general Dutch population. Results: Of 634 severe asthma patients who received biologic therapy in RAPSODI, 9 (1.4%) were diagnosed with COVID-19. Seven patients (1.1%) required hospitalization for oxygen therapy, of which 5 were admitted to the intensive care for intubation and mechanical ventilation. One patient died (0.16%). All intubated patients had ≥1 co-morbidities. Odds (95%CI) for COVID-19 related hospitalization and intubations were 14 (6.6–29.5) and 41 (16.9–98.5) times higher, respectively, compared to the Dutch population. One patient presented with an asthma exacerbation. Conclusion: Patients with severe asthma using biologic therapy showed to have a more severe course of COVID-19 compared to the general population. This may be due to co-morbidities, the severity of asthmatic airway inflammation, the use of biologics, or a combination of these

Dapagliflozin for prednisone-induced hyperglycemia in acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

This study aimed to compare the effectiveness and safety of add-on treatment with dapagliflozin to placebo in subjects with prednisone-induced hyperglycemia during treatment for acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). We enrolled 46 patients hospitalized for an AECOPD in a multicenter double-blind randomized controlled study in which add-on treatment with dapagliflozin 10 mg was compared to placebo. Glycemic control and incidence of hypoglycemia were measured through a blinded subcutaneous continuous glucose measurement device. Subjects in the dapagliflozin group, spent 54 ± 27.7% of the time in target range (3.9-10 mmol/L) and this was 53.6 ± 23.4% in the placebo group (p = 0.96). Mean glucose concentration was 10.1 mmol/L in the dapagliflozin group and 10.4 mmol/L in the placebo group (p = 0.66). One patient using dapagliflozin and 2 patients using placebo experienced a symptomatic hypoglycemia. Treatment with dapagliflozin was safe and there was no difference in risk of hypoglycemia compared to placebo. Dapagliflozin did not result in better glycemic control compared to placebo in patients with prednisone-induced hyperglycemia during AECOP