Cough is less common and less severe in systemic sclerosis‐associated interstitial lung disease compared to other fibrotic interstitial lung diseases

Abstract

Cough is more frequent, more severe and more often productive in IPF and chronic HP compared to SSc-ILD, despite similar ILD severity in these cohorts. Cough severity is strongly and independently associated with dyspnoea and pulmonary function, and is a significant contributor to reduced quality of life in both IPF and SSc-ILD.

Cough in fibrotic lung disease: An unresolved challenge

“…Interestingly, Cheng et al . found that burden of cough in HP is very similar to that seen in IPF with 83% and 87% of individuals reporting cough with similar median VAS scores of 29 and 39, respectively.…”

“…Interestingly, Cheng et al 5 found that burden of cough in HP is very similar to that seen in IPF with 83% and 87% of individuals reporting cough with similar median VAS scores of 29 and 39, respectively. Although the cough burden was also high in scleroderma at 68% with a VAS score of 18, it was significantly less frequent and less intrusive than in HP or IPF.…”

“…This observation of scleroderma cough burden is similar to that reported in a recently published study of cough in scleroderma by Tashkin et al ., where 61% of patients reported frequent cough. In the study by Cheng et al ., the individuals with scleroderma had on average been diagnosed with their disease for a longer period of time than the other disease groups. The observed difference in cough severity may, in part, reflect adaption to the symptom.…”

“…Cheng et al . highlight the important impact of cough on quality of life in individuals with fibrotic lung disease.…”

“…Cheng et al .’s study provides an important description of the impact of cough in individuals who have non‐IPF fibrotic lung disease and for whom therapeutic options remain disappointing. An important remaining challenge is to elucidate whether the pathomechanisms triggering the cough in these diseases are the same.…”