Sensorimotor training for airway protection improves cough-related outcomes in Parkinson’s disease

A recent study confirmed the efficacy of sensorimotor training for airway protection (smTAP) in improving cough-related outcomes in people with Parkinson’s disease (PD). The results of this study were published in the journal, Movement Disorders. 

The aim of this study was to compare the effect of expiratory muscle strength training (EMST) and smTAP in improving cough-related outcomes in people with PD. This prospective phase II randomized-blinded controlled clinical trial included 65 participants with PD and dysphagia, and were assessed for 5 weeks. The participants either received EMST or smTAP, and a post-training assessment. Maximum expiratory pressure (MEP) and voluntary cough peak expiratory flow rate were the primary outcome measures (PEFR).

The reflex cough PEFR, reflex cough expired volume, and urge to cough improved in the smTAP group, but not in the EMST group. Thus, the clinical trial suggests the efficacy of smTAP to improve reflex and voluntary cough function in patients with PD.

COVID-19 viral infection found to trigger asthma

COVID-19 infection may play a vital role in initiating asthma pathogenesis. A study published in The Journal of Asthma, aimed to investigate the presence of underlying chronic airway disease in individuals with chronic cough and dyspnoea that lasted longer than eight weeks and were previously infected with Coronavirus and had another unknown lung disease.

The study procured data from 151 patients who were admitted to respiratory diseases outpatient room and had above-mentioned characteristics. Smoking history, the severity of lung involvement during Covid-19 infection, and bronchodilator reversibility test results were recorded. Smoking and forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) were compared.

According to the findings, FEV1, which signifies the severity of obstructive lung disease, increased by 200 mL in 40 patients. In 24 patients, an increase in FEV1 was found to be 200 ml and above, and the percentage of FEV1 was 12% or more. While 14 patients were diagnosed with asthma, 13 patients were diagnosed with non-reversible airflow obstruction (NRAO), and 1 patient was diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

It can be considered that viral infection-related asthma may be the underlying cause of prolonged cough and dyspnoea after COVID-19 infection.