Prevalence of chronic cough and patient characteristics in adults in Spain: A population-based cross-sectional survey

Abstract

Background Chronic cough (CC) represents a significant health burden. This study assessed the prevalence of CC (defined as per international guidelines as cough duration >8 weeks) in Spanish adults and compared characteristics between CC and non-CC cohorts. Methods CC cohorts were compiled using data from adult respondents to the 2020 Spanish cross-sectional online National Health and Wellness Survey (NHWS). Using propensity scores, respondents experiencing CC during their lifetime and the previous 12 months were matched 3:1 to respondents without CC and their health characteristics were compared. The number of Spanish adults affected with CC was estimated using weighted CC prevalence. Results CC during their lifetime or the previous 12 months was experienced by 579 (8.2%) and 389 (5.5%) of 7074 NHWS respondents, of whom 233 (38.5%) and 171 (44.0%), respectively, had physician-diagnosed CC. Based on weighted prevalence rates, lifetime and 12-month CC were estimated to affect ≈3.3 million and ≈2.2 million Spanish adults, respectively. Relative to the non-CC cohort, the 12-month CC cohort consistently demonstrated poorer health status, poorer mental health, greater healthcare utilization, and lower productivity at work and home. Conclusion This study contributes novel data regarding the prevalence of CC in Spain, suggests that CC is underdiagnosed, and reflects that CC and related comorbidities inflict a significant health burden in the affected population.

Characteristics and Management of Patients with Refractory or Unexplained Chronic Cough in Outpatient Hospital Clinics in Spain: A Retrospective Multicenter Study

“…The study provides quantitative data about health resource utilization associated with the diagnosis and management of RCC and UCC, as recorded in patients’ medical records. Data reported by Spanish patients who participated in the cross-sectional European National Health and Wellness Survey applied to chronic cough in general [ 4 ], whereas our study is specific to the difficult-to-manage subsets of patients with RCC or UCC. It is important to emphasize that the results derive from patients who were being followed for their RCC or UCC in outpatient hospital clinics.…”

“…Chronic cough, defined as a cough that persists for longer than eight weeks, has an estimated 12-month period prevalence of around 5% according to recent population-based studies from the United States, Japan, Germany and Spain [ 1 – 4 ], and is one of the most common reasons for adults to seek medical attention [ 5 , 6 ]. Chronic cough can cause physical symptoms (e.g., stress urinary incontinence, cough-related syncope, and dysphonia) and may lead to depression, social isolation, and difficulties in personal relationships, with a profoundly negative impact on an individual’s health-related quality of life [ 7 – 9 ].…”

“…There are limited data specific to Spain regarding the consequences and burden of RCC and UCC on patients and the healthcare system. The 2020 population-based National Health and Wellness Survey conducted across 29 European countries found that Spanish respondents who self-reported chronic cough (579 of 7074 respondents in Spain) experienced inferior health status, poorer mental health, greater healthcare utilization, and lower productivity at work and home [ 4 ]. However, this study analyzed chronic cough patients in general and did not focus on the differences between RCC and UCC.…”

Efficacy and safety of gefapixant for chronic cough: a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

“…Chronic cough, defined as cough that lasts for >8 weeks, is commonly encountered in both primary and specialty care [ 29 ]. Neuronal injury from inflammation, infection or allergy that results in altered cough regulation and cough hypersensitivity has been proposed as a potential mechanism of chronic cough [ 30 , 31 ].…”

Worldwide prevalence, risk factors and burden of chronic cough in the general population: a narrative review

“…Kubo and colleagues (24) based on the data from the 2019 Japan NHWS and a supplemental chronic cough survey, showed that the 12-month prevalence of chronic cough was 4.29%. Domínguez-Ortega and colleagues (25) reported prevalence Search terms used "Chronic cough", "chronic bronchitis", "epidemiology", "prevalence", "risk factor", "burden", "quality of life", "adult" and "general population" during their lifetime or the previous 12 months in Spanish adults was respectively 8.2% and 5.5%. There are also a few reports on the prevalence of chronic cough base on no objective definition for the duration of cough (26)(27)(28).…”