Treatable traits in cough: findings from patients with refractory chronic cough undergoing laryngoscopy
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Authors
Sutanto, Jasandra
Butlet, Jennifer
Hunter, Conor
Peace, Louise
Green, Nicola
Fearby, Simon
Issue Date
2026
Type
Article
Language
en
Keywords
Alternative Title
Abstract
Abstract
Introduction Treatable traits have fundamentally changed chronic cough management. The BTS clinical statement1 outlined 12 key traits, but there is limited research in this area. Patients with refractory chronic cough (RCC) may exhibit features of cough hypersensitivity but are otherwise poorly characterized. Speech therapy treatment has been shown to be an effective treatment and assessment with laryngeal endoscopy and provocation enables us to better elucidate traits in this group of patients.
Methods Retrospective review of electronic health records for 286 patients with RCC referred to speech and language therapy and phone triaged pre assessment between December 2022 to December 2024.
Results 196/286 (68%) patients were female, mean duration cough 34 months. 84.27% were overweight/obese, mean BMI = 31. Mean number of symptoms reported was 4 (1–8) including dry cough (80.07%), throat clearing (60.84%), laryngeal paraesthesia (72.38%), dysphagia (45%), dysphonia (51%), throat tightness (31%), and breathlessness (43%). Most (52%) reported 4 or more traits, mean number traits = 3.8 (0–9), including smoker/ex-smoker (39.86%), coexisting respiratory disease (48.95%) (asthma, COPD, ILD, bronchiectasis, sarcoidosis), poor inhaler hygiene (52.80%), poor fluid intake (45.10%), rhinitis, (38.46%), reflux (53.15%), post infection (9.79%), anxiety (44.06%), and depression (34.62%). Many cases of reflux and rhinitis were questionable. 129/286 (45.10%) had subsequent SLT-led laryngoscopy. Laryngoscopy with provocation revealed further traits including hypersensitivity (88.37%), laryngeal muscle imbalance (63.57%), dry/viscous secretions (51.16%), as well as inflammatory (15.50%), structural (13.18%) and neuromuscular impairment (4.65%) of the laryngeal and supra-laryngeal regions. Co-morbidity was common (mean number of comorbidities = 5 (0–17)).
Description
Citation
Sutanto, J., Butler, J., Hunter, C. et al. (2026) Treatable traits in cough: patients with refractory chronic cough undergoing laryngoscopy and cough control therapy. ERJ Open Research; (80) :A202-A203.
Publisher
ERJ Open Research
License
Journal
ERJ Open Research