Chronic cough and cough hypersensitivity: from mechanistic insights to novel antitussives

Abstract

Chronic cough has a global prevalence of 5–10% in the general adult population (≥18 years);1 however, few effective treatment options are available for patients. Irrespective of cause, many adult patients with chronic cough present with cough hypersensitivity, which is a syndrome of troublesome coughing triggered by low levels of thermal, mechanical, or chemical exposure. Recent scientific and clinical advances—encompassing the burden of chronic cough, underlying pathophysiological mechanisms, approaches to measuring cough and cough hypersensitivity, current management approaches, and the development of novel antitussive strategies (panel)—were presented at the Twelfth London International Cough Symposium (12th LICS) held at Imperial College London (London, UK) from July 13 to 14, 2022.