What is chronic cough?
For adult patients, chronic cough is a cough that lasts for >8 weeks and is estimated to impact ~5% of the US population.1,2,*
When cough persists >8 weeks, consider further evaluation.1
Cough as a medical problem can be evaluated by its duration, characteristics, severity, etiology, pathophysiology, or treatment response.3
Investigation of cough seeks to identify and treat underlying conditions.1
*Based on a cross-sectional study of 74,977 adults in the United States who completed a 2018 National Health and Wellness Survey, 4.9% of respondents self-reported experiencing chronic cough in the prior 12 months.2
Common underlying conditions
Chronic cough is often associated with asthma, GERD, UACS (postnasal drip), and/or NAEB.1,4
In some cases, cough persists even after underlying conditions have been treated, or an underlying condition cannot be identified.5
If chronic cough persists, consider refractory or unexplained chronic cough
Refractory or unexplained chronic cough is a chronic cough that persists despite appropriate treatment of an underlying condition or for which no underlying condition has been identified despite a thorough clinical evaluation.1,5
In patients with refractory or unexplained chronic cough,
cough could be considered as a medical condition rather than a symptom.6
References: 1. Irwin RS et al. Chest. 2018;153:196-209. 2. Meltzer EO et al. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2021;9:4037-4044. 3. McGarvey L, Gibson PG. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2019;7:1711-1714. 4. Mazzone SB et al. Lancet Respir Med. 2018;6:636-646. 5. Gibson P et al. Chest. 2016;149:27-44. 6. Kardos P et al. Postgrad Med. 2021;133:481-488.
