The impact of COVID pandemic on quality of life in patients with chronic cough

Abstract

Introduction. A chronic cough (CC) significantly impairs patients’ quality of life. During COVID-19 pandemic cough has been considered as a cardinal symptom of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Aim. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on functioning of patients with a chronic cough. Material and methods. A survey of 13 closed questions, was conducted among 100 adults with CC who were treated in a cough clinic between November 2021 and February 2023. At the same time cough severity was measured by 100 mm Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and cough related quality of life using Leicester Cough Questionnaire (LCQ). Results. Median VAS was 40 mm (20-64 mm) and median LCQ was 14.8 points (IQR 11.6-17.6). 68 patients with CC experienced unfavorable social reactions and 40 patients declared that they avoided going out because of cough. Wearing masks led to increase in cough severity in 53 patients. Despite limitations in regular medical visits, only 20 patients (21%) declared worse quality of medical care. When it comes to 48 patients, they had SARS-CoV-2 infection confirmed by antigen or RT-PCR test, but only in 27 of them (56%) cough became more severe during COVID-19 infection and only 15 patients (15/48, 31%) required modification of previous antitussive treatment due to COVID-19 infection. Conclusion. The comparison of patients who had SARS-CoV-2 infection with those who did not, revealed that patients with COVID-19 infection were younger, more often experienced unfavorable social reactions in public places, their cough seemed alarming to the relatives to a greater extent and wearing masks was more burdensome for them. Authors findings suggest that COVD-19 had a negative impact mainly on social and psychological aspects of life in adults with CC. Keywords: COVID-19, chronic cough, quality of life.