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. 2021 Jul;8(1):e000832.
doi: 10.1136/bmjresp-2020-000832.

Web-based survey to evaluate the prevalence of chronic and subacute cough and patient characteristics in Japan

Keisuke Tobe  1 , Takekazu Kubo  2 , Kotoba Okuyama  1 , Masashi Kikuchi  1 , Yirong Chen  3 , Jonathan Schelfhout  4 , Machiko Abe  1 , Shigeru Tokita  1
Affiliations

Web-based survey to evaluate the prevalence of chronic and subacute cough and patient characteristics in Japan

Keisuke Tobe et al. BMJ Open Respir Res. 2021 Jul.

Abstract

Background: Cough lasting 3-8 weeks and more than 8 weeks are defined as subacute/prolonged cough and chronic cough, respectively. Japanese chronic cough population has not been well studied. This study aimed to describe the prevalence and characteristics of chronic cough and subacute cough patients in Japan. This study also sought to compare between chronic cough patients who were not greatly satisfied with treatment effectiveness for resolving cough and other chronic cough patients.

Methods: Data from a cross-sectional online 2019 Japan National Health and Wellness Survey and a supplemental chronic cough survey were used to understand respondents' chronic cough status and their cough-specific characteristics and experience. The prevalence, patient characteristics and cough-specific characteristics were summarised descriptively. Patients who were not greatly satisfied with treatment effectiveness and other chronic cough patients were compared for their characteristics and cough severity.

Results: The point prevalence of chronic cough was 2.89% and 12-month period prevalence was 4.29%. Among all chronic cough patients analysed, the average age was 56 years old, 61.1% were males and 29.4% were current smokers. Patients were most frequently told by a physician that cough was related to allergic rhinitis, asthma and cough variant asthma. Only 44.2% of chronic cough patients had spoken with a physician about their cough, and half of chronic cough patients did not use any medications. Patients who were not greatly satisfied with treatment effectiveness had significantly greater cough severity during past 2 weeks compared with other chronic cough patients (Visual Analogue Scale 45.34 vs 39.63).

Conclusions: This study described the prevalence and patient characteristics information of chronic cough patients in Japan. Furthermore, the study highlighted an unmet need for better diagnosis and treatments for chronic cough patients, especially among patients who were not greatly satisfied with treatment effectiveness and reported significantly worse cough severity.

Keywords: clinical epidemiology; cough/mechanisms/pharmacology.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: KT, TK, KO, MK, MA and ST are employees at MSD K.K, Tokyo, Japan. YC is an employee at Kantar, Health Division, Singapore. Kantar received funding from MSD K.K., Tokyo, Japan for conduction of the study, analysis and manuscript development. JS is an employee at Merck Sharp & Dohme, a subsidiary of Merck & Co, Kenilworth, New Jersey, USA.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Self-reported underlying conditions in chronic cough patients and chronic cough patients not greatly satisfied with treatment effectiveness for resolving cough note: patients were allowed to choose multiple underlying diseases. If there were no underlying diseases, patients were allowed to choose only ‘I don’t know’ or ‘none’. Only 564 chronic cough patients answered the question about underlying diseases.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Self-reported medication usage and satisfaction in chronic cough patients. ICS-LABA, Inhaled Corticosteroid and Long-Acting β2-Agonist.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Respondent flow chart. NHWS, National Health and Wellness Survey.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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