Publication | Year conducted | Country | Number of patients | Cough duration | Number of patients with subacute cough | Intervention(s) and control Duration of follow-up | Duration of treatment of measurement, days | Primary outcome and time-point | Other outcomes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wang et al, 201426 | 2011–2012 | UK | 276 | 2–8 weeks | NRa | Montelukast 10 mg daily versus placebo | 14b 28 | LCQ score (cough specific quality of life) at day 14 and 28 |
|
Zanasi et al, 201427 | 2011–2012 | Italy | 92 | ≥3 weeks and <4 weeks after URTI | 92 (100%) | Salbutamol 1.875 mg/0.5 ml plus ipratropium bromide 0.375 mg/0.5 ml versus placebo | 10 20 | Cough severity (daytime and night-time separately) at day 10 or 20c |
|
Woodcock et al, 201028 | NR | UK, Latin America, South Africa | 91 | ≥2 weeks and ≤90 days after viral URTI | NRd | NOP1 receptor agonist 100 mg twice daily versus codeine 30 mg twice daily versus placebo | 5 5 | Cough severity at day 5 |
|
Zolghadrasli, 200929 | 2006–2007 | Iran | 100 | >3 weeks | 83 (83%) f | Gelatine 5 cc (a teaspoon) three times a day versus continuation of the previous antitussive medication | 3–5 6–10 | NR |
|
Ponsioen et al, 200530 | 2000–2001 | Netherlands | 135 (89 subacute cough 3–8 weeks) | ≥2 weeksg | 89 (67%)g | 500 µg inhaled fluticasone propionate twice daily versus placebo | 14 14 | Cough score (daytime) at 14 days |
|
Pornsuriyasak et al, 200531 | NR | Thailand | 30 | >3 weeks | NR i | Four puffs of 100 µg budesonide twice daily versus placebo | 28 28 | NR |
|
↵a Mean duration 5 weeks (SD 1.9) in the intervention and 4.8 weeks (SD 1.8) in the control group, with 48% of patients ≤4 weeks. No subgroup for subacute cough (3–8 weeks) reported.
↵b Participants could choose to continue treatment.
↵c Reporting not clear.
↵d Persistent cough described as subacute cough after a viral upper respiratory tract infection lasting 14–90 days. Median cough duration of 33 days, range 16–99 days. No subgroup for subacute cough (3–8 weeks) reported.
↵e Including cough frequency, lack of sleep, interference with daytime activity, and a general question on how the cough has affected the patient. No results are reported beyond stating that there were ‘no significant differences’.
↵f Included 17 of 100 patients (17%) with cough lasting >8 weeks. No subgroup for subacute cough (3–8 weeks) reported.
↵g Included 31 of 133 patients (23%) with cough lasting 2–3 weeks and 13 patients (10%) with cough lasting >8 weeks. No subgroup for subacute cough (3–8 weeks) reported.
↵h Including cough, sputum production, wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, number of awakenings, number of cigarettes smoked.
↵i Included patients with cough lasting > 3 weeks and only presents the mean cough duration at baseline (treatment group: 5.93 weeks, SD 1.94; control group: 4.66 weeks, SD 2.05). No subgroup for subacute cough (3–8 weeks) reported.
j Included in meta-analysis. LCQ = Leicester Cough Questionnaire. NOP1 = nociception opioid 1. NR = not reported. SD = standard deviation. URTI = upper respiratory tract infection. VCD = verbal category descriptive.