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Cough Update: Management of Dry Cough in India

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eMediNexus    21 March 2021

A single visit, non-interventional, cross-sectional, interview based physician survey was conducted for a period of 3 months. About 500 registered physicians with minimum 6 months of clinical practice were questioned in their clinic or hospital. The physicians were asked to complete a structured questionnaire, which consisted of 28 questions, about their routine clinical practice alternating from etiology to patient demographics to treatment modalities for dry cough management.

The key objective of a survey is to recognize the predominant practice pattern in the management of dry cough between the primary care physicians in clinical settings of India.

The results showed that around 40% physicians informed that 11-20% of their patients had dry cough primarily. 57% and 46% physicians stated that acute and chronic dry cough was observed in >30% of their patients, respectively. Almost 68% physicians informed that > 21% of their patients had chronic dry cough and they were smokers. 61-62% physicians stated that 11-30% of their patients were exposed to pollution. Physicians report that 19.6% of their patients suffered allergy/asthma and were followed by respiratory tract infections in 17.6% patients, smokers cough in 11.4% patients and gastroesophageal reflux disease in 10.4% patients. 86.4% physicians mentioned that the underlying cause of chronic dry cough must be determined before starting the specific therapy and 13.6% physicians suggested that cough should be curbed to improve the quality of life of the patients. Dextromethorphan is ranked 1st by 68% physicians and codeine is ranked 2nd by 47% physicians. These are the most suggested antitussives in dry cough patients.

The survey concluded that dry cough causes significant impairment in a patients daily related activities. An increased awareness of treatment regime for the dry cough management in physicians can considerably improve the patients quality of life.

Source: J Assoc Physicians India. 2016 Jun;64(6):48-54.

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