The following is a summary of “Burden of chronic cough on social participation, healthcare resource utilization and activities of daily living in the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA),” published in the November 2023 issue of Pulmonology by Satia, et al.

For a study, researchers sought to discern whether the burden of chronic cough differs based on the cough’s nature (dry or productive) and the individual’s gender. Using data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging, the investigation explored associations between chronic cough and various outcomes related to social participation, healthcare utilization, and activities of daily living.

The Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging, a nationally representative sample of adults aged 45–85 years, provided the dataset for the study. Chronic cough was identified through self-reported daily cough over the past 12 months, assessed at both baseline (2011–2015) and follow-up (2015–2018). Odds ratios (95% CI) for cough status and changes in social participation activities (SPA), healthcare resource utilization (HCRU), basic activities of daily living (ADLs), and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) were estimated. The analysis involved a weighted generalized estimating equation (WGEE), and results were stratified by sex. Age, smoking, body mass index, education, respiratory diseases, and retirement status were adjusted.

Chronic cough, in general, was associated with a greater burden on social participation, healthcare utilization, and personal care. Notably, productive chronic cough in males showed associations with SPA limited by health, ED visits, and hospitalization. Females with productive chronic cough experienced a reduced frequency of SPA and ED visits. In contrast, dry chronic cough in females was linked to SPA limitations due to health and ED visits. Both types of cough were associated with at least one impaired basic ADL, but only in females with productive chronic cough was there an association with any impairment in IADLs. These results underscore the substantial impact of chronic cough, revealing nuanced differences based on cough type and gender.

The study concluded that chronic cough substantially burdened social participation, healthcare utilization, and personal care. The nature of the burden varied based on the type of cough and the gender of the individuals affected. The findings highlighted the importance of considering both cough characteristics and gender in understanding and managing the impact of chronic cough.

Source: resmedjournal.com/article/S0954-6111(23)00319-0/fulltext