Chronic cough can be passed down from parents to children, a new study suggests

In a recent study published in ERJ Open Research, researchers investigated the heritability of chronic cough, considering different types of cough (productive vs. nonproductive).

Their findings indicate chronic cough may be heritable, with the kind of cough in parents showing associations with the same type of cough in their offspring.

Study: Heritability of cough across two generations: the RHINESSA study. Image Credit: Pixel-Shot/Shutterstock.comStudy: Heritability of cough across two generations: the RHINESSA study. Image Credit: Pixel-Shot/Shutterstock.com

Background

Chronic cough affects about 10% of the population and can negatively affect the quality of life while resulting in lost work days.

It is thought to result when the reflex related to coughing becomes sensitized, known as cough hypersensitivity syndrome. However, the exact causes of this phenomenon remain unclear.

Some research suggests that certain biological processes and certain genetic factors may increase the chance of chronic cough. For example, a specific genetic variant called RE-RFC1 has been linked to chronic cough in some patients.

Despite this, little research has been done on whether chronic cough is inherited, especially when considering different types of cough, such as productive cough, which produces mucus and or phlegm and thus helps clear the respiratory tract of irritants or infections, and nonproductive cough, also known as dry cough.

About the study

In this study, researchers aimed to determine if chronic cough among parents is linked to similar conditions in their children, focusing on whether the specific cough type is also inherited.

They hypothesized that chronic cough may be a heritable condition and that the type of cough may also be passed from one generation to the next.

The researchers examined the heritability of chronic cough by analyzing data from two large-scale studies, one of which included parents from Northern Europe and another study which focused on the offspring of participants in the first study from Australia, Spain, and Northern Europe.

The former collected data from more than 21,000 individuals at multiple time points (1990, 2000, 2010), while the latter study included over 10,000 offspring participants between 2012 and 2019.

Chronic cough was classified into two types: productive (with phlegm) and nonproductive (without phlegm), based on participants' self-reports.

The analysis explored the relationship between chronic cough in parents and their offspring, using statistical models that accounted for factors such as age, sex, body mass index, smoking status, asthma, and other health conditions.

The researchers also conducted sensitivity analyses to examine the influence of factors like asthma, smoking, and sex on the heritability of chronic cough. The study followed ethical guidelines, with all participants providing informed consent, and findings were analyzed according to established guidelines for observational studies.

Findings

The study analyzed data from 7,155 parents and 8,176 offspring to explore the heritability of chronic cough. It found that offspring with chronic cough were more often female smokers and had more cough-related health issues, such as asthma and gastroesophageal reflux.

A strong association was observed between chronic cough in parents and their offspring, particularly when parents had persistent coughs over time.

Specifically, 29% of offspring reported chronic cough if their parents had it twice, compared to 18% if the parents never had a chronic cough.

The type of cough also mattered: offspring were more likely to develop the same kind of cough as their parents—nonproductive or productive.

Additionally, the study found that chronic cough in female offspring was linked to both male and female parents, while chronic cough in male offspring was not significantly associated with male parents.

Sensitivity analyses confirmed these findings, though the link between productive cough in parents and offspring became less significant when accounting for non-smokers and those without asthma.

Overall, the study suggests that chronic cough, especially its type, is heritable across generations.

Conclusions

The study’s findings indicate that adult offspring of parents with chronic cough are more likely to suffer from the same condition, particularly when considering the kind of cough—nonproductive or productive.

This association persists even after adjusting for various confounding factors, suggesting chronic cough may be heritable.

These findings align with limited previous research, such as a Korean study that also highlighted a family history of long-standing chronic cough. The heritability appears stronger in female offspring, though this needs further investigation.

The study's strengths include large, well-characterized population cohorts and consistent findings across different statistical analyses.

However, limitations include the lack of data from both parents in most cases, potential underreporting of chronic cough in younger offspring, and the absence of objective measurements like lung function.

Moreover, the study did not account for certain confounders like sleep apnea or air pollution, which could affect the results.

Future research should explore genetic factors contributing to this heritability, especially for nonproductive cough, and consider the role of environmental exposures and behavioral factors in chronic cough transmission. Understanding these mechanisms could lead to new treatments for chronic cough.

Journal reference:
  • Emilsson, O.I., Johansson, H., Johannessen, A., Janson, C., Palm, A., Franklin, K.A., Oudin, A., Real, F.G., Holm, M., Gislason, T., Lindberg, E., Jõgi, R., Schlünssen, V., Callejas-González, F.J., Zhang, J., Malinovschi, A., Svanes, C., Ekström, M. (2024) Heritability of cough across two generations: the RHINESSA study. ERJ Open Research. doi: 10.1183/23120541.00071-2024. https://openres.ersjournals.com/content/10/4/00071-2024

Priyanjana Pramanik

Written by

Priyanjana Pramanik

Priyanjana Pramanik is a writer based in Kolkata, India, with an academic background in Wildlife Biology and economics. She has experience in teaching, science writing, and mangrove ecology. Priyanjana holds Masters in Wildlife Biology and Conservation (National Centre of Biological Sciences, 2022) and Economics (Tufts University, 2018). In between master's degrees, she was a researcher in the field of public health policy, focusing on improving maternal and child health outcomes in South Asia. She is passionate about science communication and enabling biodiversity to thrive alongside people. The fieldwork for her second master's was in the mangrove forests of Eastern India, where she studied the complex relationships between humans, mangrove fauna, and seedling growth.

Citations

Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:

  • APA

    Pramanik, Priyanjana. (2024, August 26). Chronic cough can be passed down from parents to children, a new study suggests. News-Medical. Retrieved on October 04, 2024 from https://www.news-medical.net/news/20240826/Chronic-cough-can-be-passed-down-from-parents-to-children-a-new-study-suggests.aspx.

  • MLA

    Pramanik, Priyanjana. "Chronic cough can be passed down from parents to children, a new study suggests". News-Medical. 04 October 2024. <https://www.news-medical.net/news/20240826/Chronic-cough-can-be-passed-down-from-parents-to-children-a-new-study-suggests.aspx>.

  • Chicago

    Pramanik, Priyanjana. "Chronic cough can be passed down from parents to children, a new study suggests". News-Medical. https://www.news-medical.net/news/20240826/Chronic-cough-can-be-passed-down-from-parents-to-children-a-new-study-suggests.aspx. (accessed October 04, 2024).

  • Harvard

    Pramanik, Priyanjana. 2024. Chronic cough can be passed down from parents to children, a new study suggests. News-Medical, viewed 04 October 2024, https://www.news-medical.net/news/20240826/Chronic-cough-can-be-passed-down-from-parents-to-children-a-new-study-suggests.aspx.

Comments

The opinions expressed here are the views of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of News Medical.
Post a new comment
Post

While we only use edited and approved content for Azthena answers, it may on occasions provide incorrect responses. Please confirm any data provided with the related suppliers or authors. We do not provide medical advice, if you search for medical information you must always consult a medical professional before acting on any information provided.

Your questions, but not your email details will be shared with OpenAI and retained for 30 days in accordance with their privacy principles.

Please do not ask questions that use sensitive or confidential information.

Read the full Terms & Conditions.

You might also like...
Maternal obesity doubles the risk of developing autism in children