Table 1 The basic characteristics of 43 patients with chronic cough

Age (years)

55.6 (51.9 – 59.4)

Number of females

32 (74%)

Body mass index (kg/m2)

27.4 (25.8 – 29.0)

Number of ex smokers

20 (47%)

Number of atopic patients

14 (33%)

Duration of cough (years)

8.5 (5.5 – 11.6)

Most probable cause of cough^a

Rhinitis 22 (51%)

Esophageal reflux 14 (33%)

Asthma 9 (21%)

Leicester questionnaire total score

13.2 (12.2 – 14.3)

Saline coughs-to-dose ratio (coughs/Osm/kg)

7.24 (5.16 – 9.33)

Number of saline responders

21 (49%)

Histamine response-to-dose ratio^b (%/mg)

7.94 (4.74 – 13.3)

Number of histamine responders^c

21 (50%)

Nitric oxide concentration (ppm)

16.8 (12.7 – 20.9)

FEV₁ (% of predicted)

93.7 (90.2 – 97.3)

FEV₁ rise after salbutamol (%)

4.05 (2.86 – 5.24)

PEF variation in ambulatory monitoring (%)

7.13 (5.76 – 8.51)