Prevalence and Clinical Characteristics of Acute Cough in Indian Adults and Elderly Population: A Retrospective Real-world Study

Abstract

Introduction: Acute cough is a common symptom reflecting the body's protective reflex and is associated with many ailments beyond respiratory conditions. This study aims to assess the prevalence of acute cough, including its categorization, associated complaints, and conditions in adult and elderly patients in real-world settings in India.

Methodology: A retrospective analysis of electronic medical records (EMRs) was conducted to evaluate the prevalence and clinical features of acute cough in adult and elderly patients.

Results: Of 22,51,735 patients with cough complaints in the EMR, 64.06% were adults (18-65 years) and 10.39% were elderly patients (>65 years). Among the adult patients with cough complaints, nonproductive cough was prevalent in a higher proportion (16.34%) than productive cough (12.62%). Additionally, in 71.04% of adults, cough was not categorized and marked as unspecified cough. While in the geriatric population, productive cough (18.78%) was more common than nonproductive cough (14.80%). In 66.42% of geriatric patients, cough remained unspecified. A higher proportion of adult and geriatric patients visited consulting physicians (CPs) and general physicians (GPs). Respiratory tract infection (RTI) was the most frequently associated condition, followed by asthma, bronchitis, and other ailments. Fever and cold were common complaints among patients with both productive and nonproductive cough. This study underscores the substantial prevalence of acute cough in adults and the elderly population and the need for targeted strategies to manage it effectively.

Conclusion: While cough categorization will help in symptom-targeted management approach for productive or nonproductive cough, the majority of cough patients are not yet categorized and are referred to as unspecified cough. This challenge persists irrespective of specialty of the doctors with a direct impact on patient outcomes.