Sex-Related Disparities in Chronic Cough Reported by Adults in the United States

OBJECTIVES: This abstract uses survey data of US adults to describe differences between females and males with chronic cough and the impact of this condition on HRQoL, healthcare resource utilization, and work productivity.

METHODS: Cross-sectional nationally-representative survey of US adults was used to assessed chronic cough. Health outcomes of comparison included the Patient Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS) for HRQoL, General Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD7), Patient Health Questionnaire 9-item (PHQ9), and resource utilization and work productivity questions. Means were compared with ANOVA and proportions with chi-square tests.

RESULTS: Of the 12,553 adults that completed the survey, 15.8% were classified with chronic cough. Of those with chronic cough, more were female than male (53.6% [n=1060] vs. 46.4% [n=919]). Mental and physical health scores were lower for females than males (PROMIS mental health, 47.19 [9.99] vs. 49.14 [9.93], p<0.001; PROMIS physical health 44.61 [8.54] vs. 45.53 [8.89], p=0.19). Females also had more moderate to severe anxiety (60.0% vs. 40.0%; p<0.001), and moderated to severe depression (57.7% vs. 42.5%; p=0.018). Visits to a health care provider other than a primary or specialist over the past 6 months was significantly higher for females than males (57.6% vs 42.4%; p=0.019). More females missed work due to health (61.6% vs. 38.4%; p=0.003). More females reported cough symptoms (56.9% vs 43.1%; p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: Chronic cough impacts over 15% of adults in the US. Chronic cough impacts females more than males in terms of lower HRQoL, higher anxiety and depression, missed work, and chronic cough related symptoms and conditions. More females reported a visit to a healthcare provider other than a primary or specialist in the past 6 months, while more males reported a hospital visit in the past 6 months. This abstract highlights the burden of chronic cough for females and males and the need for better management/treatment.