Cough Science News
Find all editions of Cough Science News below and get access to the latest cough science developments, publications, and interviews with cough experts.
Find all editions of Cough Science News below and get access to the latest cough science developments, publications, and interviews with cough experts.
This month’s roundup explores placebo effects in RCC trials, the role of interoception in chronic cough, and the cost burden of persistent symptoms, plus insights from Dr. Nadia Giannetti.
New key cough science publications, Actigraph x Hyfe partnership and more
This year marked significant progress in cough monitoring, solidifying cough as a valuable biomarker in diverse therapeutic areas
New findings on refractory chronic cough (RCC), pulmonary tuberculosis, and pulmonary fibrosis. Plus latest white papers by Hyfe.
Cough Science News Oct 1 - new studies on cough-related stress urinary incontinence, COVID-19 detection in vaccinated adults, and the effectiveness of anti-reflux surgery for chronic cough. Plus, expert discussions from Hyfe's Cough Science Forum and the latest on FDA regulations for cough monitoring technologies
Cough Science News Oct 1 - new studies on cough-related stress urinary incontinence, COVID-19 detection in vaccinated adults, and the effectiveness of anti-reflux surgery for chronic cough. Plus, expert discussions from Hyfe's Cough Science Forum and the latest on FDA regulations for cough monitoring technologies
Cough Science News, August 2024 - Explore studies on cough variability, acute cough duration, and the cost burden of chronic cough. Plus, discover the world’s most comprehensive collection of cinematic coughs and upcoming events in cough science
CougH Science News July 2024 - latest in cough science. Insights on cough detection algorithms, pulmonary fibrosis, asthma diagnosis from cough sounds, and more. Plus, watch expert discussions and stay updated on upcoming events
Hyfe Cough Science News, June 2024. Latest research on cough in fibrotic ILD, high-dose inhaled corticosteroids for chronic cough, and family physicians’ approaches to managing chronic cough. Plus, insights from leading researchers and upcoming events
Cough Science News May 2024 - studies on cough monitoring for COVID-19 surveillance, the effectiveness of codeine for chronic cough, factors in refractory cough in IPF, and more. Plus, insights from researchers and upcoming events
Hyfe Cough Science News, March 2024 - insights on chronic cough management in the UK, common triggers in cough hypersensitivity, and a review of treatments for refractory cough. Plus, expert Q&A and upcoming cough science events.
Key Takeaway: Placebo responses in refractory chronic cough (RCC) trials can reach up to 57% reduction in 24-hour cough frequency. This paper explores the underlying mechanisms, including true placebo effects from brain-driven cough suppression, regression to the mean, and the Hawthorne effect, as well as the challenges they create for interpreting treatment effects.
Why It Matters: High placebo responses can mask the efficacy of new therapies, complicate trial design, and increase costs. The authors propose strategies to mitigate these challenges, such as averaging multiple baseline cough measurements, carefully selecting participants, and designing trials to minimise expectation bias. These insights are essential for the development and evaluation of future RCC treatments.
Key Takeaway: This review proposes that refractory chronic cough is not simply a symptom of another disease but a hypersensitivity disorder linked to central neural processing, specifically interoception, or how the brain perceives internal body signals. The authors argue that behavioural cough suppression therapy (BCST) may work by inducing neuroplastic changes in these central pathways, much like behavioural therapies used for urinary urge incontinence.
Why It Matters: Whilst the concept of chronic cough as a standalone disease is gaining ground, many healthcare practitioners still treat cough as a symptom of a comorbid condition. This results in exhaustive, expensive and burdensome testing to exclude diseases. Many patients remain frustrated, and this paper proposes an alternative approach.
Key Takeaway: This large US study followed over 46,000 adults with chronic cough and found that those with symptoms persisting over three years (a proxy for refractory or unexplained chronic cough) had significantly more comorbidities and incurred much higher healthcare costs than those whose cough resolved. Adjusted total healthcare costs were over $15,000 higher per year in the persistent cough group.
Why It Matters: These findings highlight the substantial clinical and economic burden of RCC. Persistent symptoms are not only distressing to patients but are also associated with higher resource use across the healthcare system. The results highlight the potential value of effective RCC treatments, not just in improving patient quality of life, but in significantly reducing healthcare costs.
After 25 years on the frontlines of heart failure care, Dr. Nadia Giannetti thinks cough deserves more attention.
“Cough is a symptom we rarely talk about in heart failure, but maybe we should.”
