Prevalence and burden of chronic cough in China: results from a population-based survey.

BACKGROUND

Chronic cough is associated with reduced mental and physical health and increased health care resource use. The lack of nationwide data on chronic cough hinders our understanding of the prevalence, demographics, and impacts of chronic cough in China. The aim of this study was to estimate the lifetime and annual prevalence of chronic cough in mainland China and to describe the sociodemographic and health-related characteristics of adults with chronic cough.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study using self-reported information from a nationally representative sample of 20,051 adults. Respondents with chronic cough (daily cough for ≥ 8 weeks) during the prior 12 months were matched to respondents without chronic cough.

RESULTS

We estimated a lifetime prevalence of 7.0% and an annual prevalence of 4.1% for chronic cough among adult residents of mainland China. Affected individuals had a mean age of 43.5 years, and there were no significant differences in prevalence between men and women. Compared to matched controls, the chronic cough group had more comorbidities and included a higher proportion of individuals who had been diagnosed with respiratory and sleep-related conditions. Chronic cough was also associated with significantly worse depression and anxiety symptom severity and health-related quality of life, as well as increased impairment of work and other daily activities and higher rates of all-cause health care resource use.

CONCLUSIONS

Chinese adults with chronic cough show a middle age, equal gender distribution. Chronic cough affects an estimated 46.4 million adults in mainland China during their lifetime and is associated with significant individual and health care system burden.

TAKE HOME MESSAGE

Chronic cough affects approximately 4.1% (27.2 million) of adults per year in mainland China and is associated with worse health and health-related quality of life, impairment of work productivity and other daily activities, and increased all-cause health care resource use.