PREVALENCE AND BURDEN OF CHRONIC COUGH IN CHINA: RESULTS FROM A POPULATION-BASED SURVEY

Abstract

<h3>Introduction</h3> Chronic cough (CC) is a cough lasting ≥ 8 weeks for adults. Data on prevalence, comorbidities, healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of CC adults in China is lacking. <h3>Methods</h3> The 2020 National Health and Wellness Survey (NHWS) was administered online to a representative panel of 20,151 adults in China. Data included socio-demographics, charlson comorbidity index (CCI) comorbidities, all-cause HCRU, and HRQoL (SF-12, EQ-5D-5L). Weighted prevalence of CC anytime or in past 12 months (P12M) and of diagnosed CC were estimated and stratified by age, gender, and cigarette/tobacco experience. Matched bivariate comparison of respondents with CC in P12M vs. without CC in P12M was reported. <h3>Results</h3> Prevalence of life-time CC, CC experienced in the P12M and diagnosed CC were 7.0% (46.4 million adults), 4.1% (27.2 million) and 2.7% (18.1 million) respectively. Prevalence of CC in P12M was highest among those >75yrs (7.4%), followed by 30-39yrs (5.0%), 65-74 yrs (4.4%), 18-29yrs (4.1%), 40-49yrs (4.0%) and 50-64yrs (3.1%) (p<0.001) and was higher among former/current smokers (7.0%) vs. never-smokers (3.1%, p<0.001). No gender differences detected. Compared to 19,239 respondents without CC, the 812 with CC more frequently had ≥1 CCI comorbidities (37.2% vs. 24.7%), experienced sleep disorders in P12M (72.4% vs. 36.0%), visits to any HCP (80.6% vs. 46.4%) and poorer HRQoL (all p<0.001). <h3>Conclusions</h3> Over 46 million adults in China have experienced CC, with higher rates among former/current smokers and the elderly. Greater disease burden and lower HRQoL signal unmet needs in this CC population.