Background Cough lasting 3–8 weeks and more than 8 weeks are defined as subacute/prolonged cough and chronic cough, respectively. Japanese chronic cough population has not been well studied. This study aimed to describe the prevalence and characteristics of chronic cough and subacute cough patients in Japan. This study also sought to compare between chronic cough patients who were not greatly satisfied with treatment effectiveness for resolving cough and other chronic cough patients. Methods Data from a cross-sectional online 2019 Japan National Health and Wellness Survey and a supplemental chronic cough survey were used to understand respondents’ chronic cough status and their cough-specific characteristics and experience. The prevalence, patient characteristics and cough-specific characteristics were summarised descriptively. Patients who were not greatly satisfied with treatment effectiveness and other chronic cough patients were compared for their characteristics and cough severity. Results The point prevalence of chronic cough was 2.89% and 12-month period prevalence was 4.29%. Among all chronic cough patients analysed, the average age was 56 years old, 61.1% were males and 29.4% were current smokers. Patients were most frequently told by a physician that cough was related to allergic rhinitis, asthma and cough variant asthma. Only 44.2% of chronic cough patients had spoken with a physician about their cough, and half of chronic cough patients did not use any medications. Patients who were not greatly satisfied with treatment effectiveness had significantly greater cough severity during past 2 weeks compared with other chronic cough patients (Visual Analogue Scale 45.34 vs 39.63). Conclusions This study described the prevalence and patient characteristics information of chronic cough patients in Japan. Furthermore, the study highlighted an unmet need for better diagnosis and treatments for chronic cough patients, especially among patients who were not greatly satisfied with treatment effectiveness and reported significantly worse cough severity. Data are available on reasonable request.

中文翻译：

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基于网络的调查以评估日本慢性和亚急性咳嗽的患病率和患者特征

背景 持续 3-8 周和超过 8 周的咳嗽分别定义为亚急性/持续性咳嗽和慢性咳嗽。日本慢性咳嗽人群尚未得到很好的研究。本研究旨在描述日本慢性咳嗽和亚急性咳嗽患者的患病率和特征。本研究还试图比较对解决咳嗽的治疗效果不太满意的慢性咳嗽患者与其他慢性咳嗽患者。方法 使用来自 2019 年日本全国健康与健康调查和补充慢性咳嗽调查的横断面在线数据来了解受访者的慢性咳嗽状态及其咳嗽特异性特征和经历。描述性地总结了患病率、患者特征和咳嗽特异性特征。对治疗效果不太满意的患者与其他慢性咳嗽患者的特征和咳嗽严重程度进行比较。结果慢性咳嗽的点患病率为2.89%，12个月期间患病率为4.29%。在分析的所有慢性咳嗽患者中，平均年龄为 56 岁，61.1% 为男性，29.4% 为目前吸烟者。医生最常告诉患者咳嗽与过敏性鼻炎、哮喘和咳嗽变异性哮喘有关。只有 44.2% 的慢性咳嗽患者曾与医生讨论过他们的咳嗽问题，而一半的慢性咳嗽患者没有使用任何药物。与其他慢性咳嗽患者相比，对治疗效果不太满意的患者在过去 2 周内的咳嗽严重程度明显更高（视觉模拟量表 45.34 对 39.63）。结论 本研究描述了日本慢性咳嗽患者的患病率和患者特征信息。此外，该研究强调了对慢性咳嗽患者更好的诊断和治疗的需求未得到满足，尤其是在对治疗效果不太满意且咳嗽严重程度明显更差的患者中。可应合理要求提供数据。该研究强调了对慢性咳嗽患者进行更好诊断和治疗的需求未得到满足，尤其是在对治疗效果不太满意且咳嗽严重程度明显更差的患者中。可应合理要求提供数据。该研究强调了对慢性咳嗽患者进行更好诊断和治疗的需求未得到满足，尤其是在对治疗效果不太满意且咳嗽严重程度明显更差的患者中。可应合理要求提供数据。