JMIR Public Health and Surveillance (Feb 2024)

Profiles of Cough and Associated Risk Factors in Nonhospitalized Individuals With SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant Infection: Cross-Sectional Online Survey in China

  • Tingting Xu,
  • Yuehan Chen,
  • Wenzhi Zhan,
  • Kian Fan Chung,
  • Zhongmin Qiu,
  • Kewu Huang,
  • Ruchong Chen,
  • Jiaxing Xie,
  • Gang Wang,
  • Min Zhang,
  • Xuefen Wang,
  • Hongmei Yao,
  • Xiuqing Liao,
  • Yunhui Zhang,
  • Guojun Zhang,
  • Wei Zhang,
  • Dejun Sun,
  • Jia Zhu,
  • Shujuan Jiang,
  • Juntao Feng,
  • Jianping Zhao,
  • Gengyun Sun,
  • Huaqiong Huang,
  • Jianyong Zhang,
  • Lingwei Wang,
  • Feng Wu,
  • Suyun Li,
  • Pusheng Xu,
  • Chunhua Chi,
  • Ping Chen,
  • Mei Jiang,
  • Wen He,
  • Lianrong Huang,
  • Wei Luo,
  • Shiyue Li,
  • Nanshan Zhong,
  • Kefang Lai

DOI
https://doi.org/10.2196/47453
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 10
p. e47453

Abstract

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BackgroundCough is a common symptom during and after COVID-19 infection; however, few studies have described the cough profiles of COVID-19. ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence, severity, and associated risk factors of severe and persistent cough in individuals with COVID-19 during the latest wave of the Omicron variant in China. MethodsIn this nationwide cross-sectional study, we collected information of the characteristics of cough from individuals with infection of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant using an online questionnaire sent between December 31, 2022, and January 11, 2023. ResultsThere were 11,718 (n=7978, 68.1% female) nonhospitalized responders, with a median age of 37 (IQR 30-47) years who responded at a median of 16 (IQR 12-20) days from infection onset to the time of the survey. Cough was the most common symptom, occurring in 91.7% of participants, followed by fever, fatigue, and nasal congestion (68.8%-87.4%). The median cough visual analog scale (VAS) score was 70 (IQR 50-80) mm. Being female (odds ratio [OR] 1.31, 95% CI 1.20-1.43), having a COVID-19 vaccination history (OR 1.71, 95% CI 1.37-2.12), current smoking (OR 0.48, 95% CI 0.41-0.58), chronic cough (OR 2.04, 95% CI 1.69-2.45), coronary heart disease (OR 1.71, 95% CI 1.17-2.52), asthma (OR 1.22, 95% CI 1.02-1.46), and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) (OR 1.21, 95% CI 1.01-1.45) were independent factors for severe cough (VAS>70, 37.4%). Among all respondents, 35.0% indicated having a productive cough, which was associated with risk factors of being female (OR 1.44, 95% CI 1.31-1.57), having asthma (OR 1.84, 95% CI 1.52-2.22), chronic cough (OR 1.44, 95% CI 1.19-1.74), and GERD (OR 1.22, 95% CI 1.01-1.47). Persistent cough (>3 weeks) occurred in 13.0% of individuals, which was associated with the risk factors of having diabetes (OR 2.24, 95% CI 1.30-3.85), asthma (OR 1.70, 95% CI 1.11-2.62), and chronic cough (OR 1.97, 95% CI 1.32-2.94). ConclusionsCough is the most common symptom in nonhospitalized individuals with Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant infection. Being female, having asthma, chronic cough, GERD, coronary heart disease, diabetes, and a COVID-19 vaccination history emerged as independent factors associated with severe cough, productive cough, and persistent cough.