Evaluation and impact of chronic cough: comparison of specific vs generic quality-of-life questionnaires.
BACKGROUND
Chronic cough is a common condition that has a significant impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL).


OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether chronic cough is associated with adverse psychological and physical effects on quality of life (QoL) using different HRQoL questionnaires.


METHODS
Forty patients were recruited for the study. The diagnostic workup was mainly based on the pathogenic triad in chronic cough: postnasal drip syndrome, asthma, and gastroesophageal reflux disease. The HRQoL was evaluated with the cough-specific quality-of-life questionnaire (CQLQ), Leicester Cough Questionnaire (LCQ), Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36), and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale.


RESULTS
Symptom scores were significantly correlated with the CQLQ and LCQ (beta = .415 and beta = -.272, respectively) but not with the SF-36. A statistically significant difference was found in all questionnaires, except the physical component summary domain of the SF-36, after specific therapy. Correlation between the 2 specific HRQoL questionnaires was moderate to high when pretreatment and posttreatment scores were compared (r = -0.42 and r = -0.60). Concurrent validity of the LCQ was higher than the CQLQ when compared with the SF-36 domains. The effect size of each specific QoL questionnaire was 1 or higher after treatment, whereas it was much less in the SF-36. There was no change in depression with treatment despite anxiety. Posttreatment symptom scores were related with anxiety (r > 0.40)


CONCLUSIONS
Because HRQoL is important to patients, a cough-specific HRQoL instrument, either the CQLQ or LCQ, should be routinely used to optimally evaluate the impact of cough on patients and to evaluate the efficacy of cough-modifying agents.
Kalpaklioglu
Ayse Fusun
AF
Department of Allergy, Kirikkale University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. afusunk@yahoo.com
Kara
Turkan
T
Kurtipek
Ercan
E
Kocyigit
Pinar
P
Ekici
Aydanur
A
Ekici
Mehmet
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000996:Antitussive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003371:Cough / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014421:Turkey
D000996:Antitussive Agents