Abstract
Introduction: The severity and impact of cough are often assessed with visual analogue scale (VAS) and quality of life (QOL) tools. Defining health severity states can facilitate the clinical interpretation of VAS and QoL tools. We investigated the VAS and Leicester Cough Questionnaire (LCQ) ranges for severity states.
Methods: Prospective study of consecutive patients with chronic cough at a tertiary specialist cough clinic. Participants completed cough severity VAS, cough-specific health status LCQ and Patient Global Impression of Severity (PGI-S; 0-5: 0=no cough, 1=minimal, 2=mild, 3=moderate, 4=severe and 5=very severe) at a clinic visit. Case notes were reviewed for demographics and clinical characteristics.
Results: 151 patients were evaluated; median(IQR) age 58(46-67) years, 109(72%) female and duration of cough 6(2-14) years. Diagnoses included refractory/unexplained (55%) and asthma (11%). Participants reported median(IQR) VAS 60(36-80) mm, LCQ 11.1(8.2-14.4) and PGI-S 3(2-4). VAS and LCQ were significantly different between PGI-S categories (mild vs moderate vs severe vs very severe); suggested ranges were <40, ≥40 to <70, ≥70 to <90 and ≥90 mm, and ≥14, ≥10 to <14, ≥7 to <10 and <7, respectively (both p<0.01) (Fig 1).
Discussion: VAS and LCQ were different across different health severity states. Future studies should investigate the repeatability and responsiveness of health severity states in chronic cough.
Footnotes
Cite this article as: European Respiratory Journal 2021; 58: Suppl. 65, PA3144.
This abstract was presented at the 2021 ERS International Congress, in session “Prediction of exacerbations in patients with COPD”.
This is an ERS International Congress abstract. No full-text version is available. Further material to accompany this abstract may be available at www.ers-education.org (ERS member access only).
- Copyright ©the authors 2021