RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Prevalence and burden of chronic cough in China: a national cross-sectional study JF ERJ Open Research JO erjor FD European Respiratory Society SP 00075-2022 DO 10.1183/23120541.00075-2022 VO 8 IS 3 A1 Kewu Huang A1 Xiaoying Gu A1 Ting Yang A1 Jianying Xu A1 Lan Yang A1 Jianping Zhao A1 Xiangyan Zhang A1 Chunxue Bai A1 Jian Kang A1 Pixin Ran A1 Huahao Shen A1 Fuqiang Wen A1 Yahong Chen A1 Tieying Sun A1 Guangliang Shan A1 Yingxiang Lin A1 Sinan Wu A1 Ruiying Wang A1 Zhihong Shi A1 Yongjian Xu A1 Xianwei Ye A1 Yuanlin Song A1 Qiuyue Wang A1 Yumin Zhou A1 Wen Li A1 Liren Ding A1 Chun Wan A1 Wanzhen Yao A1 Yanfei Guo A1 Fei Xiao A1 Yong Lu A1 Xiaoxia Peng A1 Dan Xiao A1 Xiaoning Bu A1 Hong Zhang A1 Xiaolei Zhang A1 Li An A1 Shu Zhang A1 Zhixin Cao A1 Qingyuan Zhan A1 Yuanhua Yang A1 Lirong Liang A1 Huaping Dai A1 Bin Cao A1 Jiang He A1 Kian Fan Chung A1 Chen Wang A1 , YR 2022 UL http://openres.ersjournals.com/content/8/3/00075-2022.abstract AB Background Chronic cough is a common complaint, but there are no population-based data on its burden in China. We determined the prevalence of chronic cough and its impact on health status in adults stratified by sex, age and the diagnosis of COPD or the presence of small airway dysfunction (SAD).Methods A representative sample of 57 779 Chinese adults aged 20 years or older was recruited and pulmonary function test was measured. Chronic cough was defined as cough lasting for >3 months in each year. Quality of life was assessed by the 12-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12), and self-reported history of hospital visits was recorded.Results Chronic cough was found in 3.6% (95% CI 3.1–4.1) of Chinese adults, 2.4% (95% CI 1.9–3.1) of those aged 20–49 years and 6.0% (95% CI 5.3–6.8) of those aged 50 years or older. Individuals with chronic cough had an impaired physical component summary (PCS) score of the SF-12 (p<0.0001) and more emergency visits (p=0.0042) and hospital admissions (p=0.0002). Furthermore, the impact of chronic cough on PCS score was more significant in those aged 50 years or older, or with COPD (p=0.0018 or 0.0002, respectively), with the impact on hospital admission being more significant in those with COPD or with SAD (p=0.0026 or 0.0065, respectively).Conclusions Chronic cough is prevalent in China and is associated with a poorer health status, especially in individuals aged 50 years or older and those with the diagnosis of COPD or SAD.In the general adult population in China, chronic cough is prevalent and associated with poorer health status, especially in individuals aged ≥50 years and those with COPD or small airway dysfunction https://bit.ly/3785LYZ