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Meta-Analysis
. 2022 Feb 12;22(1):62.
doi: 10.1186/s12890-022-01847-w.

Prevalence of chronic cough in China: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Hanwen Liang #  1   2 , Weiyan Ye #  1 , Zhufeng Wang #  1 , Jingyi Liang  1 , Fang Yi  1 , Mei Jiang  3 , Kefang Lai  4
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Prevalence of chronic cough in China: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Hanwen Liang et al. BMC Pulm Med. .

Abstract

Background: Individual studies have indicated variable prevalence for chronic cough, but thus far, there has been no systematic report on the prevalence of this condition.

Methods: In this study, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis by searching databases including PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese biomedical literature service system, Wanfang Database, and VIP database, for studies on chronic cough in China published before December 28, 2020. A random effects model was used to calculate pooled prevalence estimates with 95% confidence interval [95%CI], weighted by study size.

Results: Fifteen studies with 141,114 community-based adults were included in the study, showing a prevalence of 6.22% (95% CI 5.03-7.41%). And 21 studies with 164,280 community-based children were included, presenting a prevalence of 7.67% (95% CI 6.24-9.11%). In subgroup meta-analyses, the prevalence in adults was 4.38% (95% CI 2.74-6.02%) in southern China and 8.70% (95% CI 6.52-10.88%) in northern China. In the children population, the prevalence in northern China was also higher than in southern China (northern vs. southern: 7.45% with a 95% CI of 5.50-9.41%, vs. 7.86% with a 95% CI of 5.56-10.16%).

Conclusions: Our population-based study provides relatively reliable data on the prevalence of chronic cough in China and may help the development of global strategies for chronic cough management.

Keywords: China; Chronic diseases; Cough; Meta-analysis; Prevalence.

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Conflict of interest statement

All authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flow diagram of records identified, excluded and included in review. Note: “*” type of publications were reviews, case reports, comments, clinical trials or meta-analysis
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Pooled chronic cough prevalence of adults in China. CI confidence intervals
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Pooled chronic cough prevalence of children in China. CI confidence intervals
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Distribution of adults with chronic cough across Mainland China. Note: Red star in the map represents Beijing City. The map was developed in XL Toolbox NG by ourselves, without the conflict of copyright
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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