Why carry out this study?

A resurgence of pertussis has been reported in South Korea in the last 2 decades, with an increasing proportion of cases reported in older adults.

There remains a gap in the local data on pertussis in older adults in South Korea, and on whether underlying conditions established as risk factors for pertussis apply to this population.

What was learned from the study?

Overall, individuals ≥ 50 years diagnosed with pertussis between 2009 and 2018 in South Korea demonstrated a higher prevalence of comorbidities compared to controls.

Pre-existing respiratory diseases, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), as well as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and acute respiratory events, were all associated with increased odds of pertussis diagnosis.

These findings complement and expand upon previous studies on the adult pertussis population, helping to inform the clinical community and public health stakeholders for creation and implementation of more effective pertussis prevention strategies in South Korea.