Source: Annual Congress 2011 - The new clinical spectrum of lung diseases: from bronchi to pleura

Abstract

Aim: Chronic cough is a common symptom for which patients seek medical consultation. Identifying the cause and alleviating their symptoms is a real challenge. In this study we aimed to find the outcome of such patients attending our centre.
Method: This is a retrospective study of patients who were referred with chronic cough to the respiratory clinic between June 09 till June10. Clinical information was obtained from electronic records.
Results: A total of 53 patients was identified. Average age was 59 years. 35 (66%) were females. 34(64%) presented with dry cough. 34 (64%) of patients were non-smokers. 95% of patients had a cause identified by investigations or by a trial of therapy. 45 (85%) had a single aetiology whilst 15% had at least two. 12(22%) patients had asthma, 9(16%) reflux, 10(18%) bronchiectasis, 7(13%) rhino sinusitis, and 5 (9%) fibrosis. For 5 patients aetiology was unestabilished. Eight (15%) had their symptom completely cured. 17 (32%) had their symptoms controlled of which 15(88%) were discharged. 28(52%) of patients were still symptomatic.
Conclusion: The study showed asthma was still the commonest etiology however this was not as high as seen in other studies. Instead a sizable number of patients were diagnosed to have bronchiectasis and fibrotic lung disease. This could be due to different patient population studied as most of the studies previouslyy reported were done in tertiary centres. Guidelines for diagnostic work up for chronic cough recommend use of HRCT late in the algorithm but our study suggest early use would be more rewarding.Using appropriate clinical judgement, early request of HRCT scans in the diagnostic workup of patients with chronic cough is thus recommended.

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Citations should be made in the following way:
K. Nandakumar, K. Vijayasaratha (Burton-on-Trent, Wolverhampton, United Kingdom). Outcome of chronic cough referrals seen in general respiratory clinic. Eur Respir J 2011; 38: Suppl. 55, 485

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