Cough Assessment and Management in Pulmonary Rehabilitation- A Canadian Survey.

Pulmonary rehabilitation is a cornerstone intervention for controlling respiratory symptoms in people with chronic respiratory diseases. Chronic cough affects up to 90% of people with chronic respiratory diseases, however, it is currently unknown whether chronic cough is assessed and/or managed in pulmonary rehabilitation. This study aimed to determine if and how chronic cough is assessed and managed in pulmonary rehabilitation. This was a cross-sectional study. Pulmonary rehabilitation programs in Canada were identified via online websites. A representative from each program was invited to complete an online survey including the following topics: program demographics, assessment and management practices, and barriers and facilitators. Of 133 programs contacted, 31 returned a completed survey (23% response rate). Approximately half (52%) of respondents reported enrolling patients with chronic cough. Of those, 45% reported assessing and 62% reported intervening in chronic cough. Inadequate knowledge of assessment and management techniques was commonly identified to be a barrier and increased education was suggested as a possible facilitator. Based on pulmonary rehabilitation programs that responded to our survey, chronic cough is a prevalent symptom; however, it is scarcely assessed and managed. A need for structured education and the use of standardised strategies were reported as facilitators to the assessment and management of chronic cough in pulmonary rehabilitation.

Non-pharmacological Management of Non-productive Chronic Cough in Adults: A Systematic Review.

Background: Chronic cough is a common reason for medical referral and its prevalence is on the rise. With only one pharmaceutical therapy currently under review for the treatment of refractory chronic cough, exploring non-pharmacological chronic cough management therapies is important. This systematic review summarizes the effectiveness of non-pharmacological chronic cough therapies in adults with non-productive refractory chronic cough or cough due to chronic respiratory diseases. Methods: We searched Medline, Embase, Cochrane, CINAHL, and Scopus from inception to September 2021. Randomized controlled trials published in English, Portuguese, or French, and examining the effects of non-pharmacological therapies in adults with chronic non-productive cough (>8 weeks; <2 teaspoons sputum) were included. Mean differences, medians, and odds ratios were calculated as appropriate. Results: 16,546 articles were identified and six articles representing five unique studies were included. Studies evaluated 228 individuals with refractory chronic cough or chronic cough due to a chronic respiratory disease [162 women (71%); 52 ± 11 to 61 ± 8 years old]. Obstructive sleep apnea was the only chronic respiratory disease studied. Non-pharmacological therapies included education, cough suppression, breathing techniques, mindfulness, and continuous positive airway pressure. When standing alone, non-pharmacological cough therapies improved cough-specific health related quality of life when not associated with interventions (mean diff MD 1.53 to 4.54), cough frequency (MD 0.59 95%CI 0.36 to 0.95), and voice outcomes (MD 0.3 to 1) when compared to control interventions. Conclusion: The evidence of non-pharmacological therapies for non-productive chronic cough is limited. Existing studies reflect the heterogeneity in study design, sample size, and outcome measures. Thus, clinical recommendations for using the most effective interventions remain to be confirmed.