Prevalence of chronic cough and patient characteristics in adults in Spain: A population-based cross-sectional survey. (24th April 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Domínguez-Ortega, Javier; Plaza, Vicente; Li, Vicky W; Fonseca, Eileen; Cea-Calvo, Luis; Martin, Ashley; Sánchez-Jareño, Marta; Brady, Joanne E; Schelfhout, Jonathan
• Is Part Of: Chronic respiratory disease. Volume 19(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-04-24
• Subjects: Chronic cough -- epidemiology -- prevalence -- survey; Respiratory organs -- Diseases -- Periodicals; 616.2005
• DOI: 10.1177/14799731221098722
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1479-9723

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.