Pulmonology · Psychiatry · 4 h ago
Suicidal ideation reported by 11% of patients with refractory chronic cough
In an observational study of 339 patients seen at a specialist cough clinic, 11% reported suicidal ideation. Ideation was associated with cough severity, cough-related health status, and symptoms of anxiety and depression, but not with age, sex, cough duration, or treatable traits.
- 11% reported suicidal ideation in a specialist-clinic cohort.
- Ideation was associated with cough severity and health status.
- Depression and anxiety symptoms were also common.
- No association was found with cough duration or treatable traits.
This observational study assessed consecutive patients with refractory chronic cough (RCC) at a specialist cough clinic. Participants completed measures of cough severity and impact, cough-specific health status, depression and anxiety; clinicians also recorded treatable traits. Suicidal ideation was identified using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9).
Among 339 participants, 73% were female; median age was 57 years and median cough duration was four years. Thirty-six patients (11%) reported suicidal ideation. Moderate or more severe depressive symptoms were reported by 104 (31%), and 62 (20%) had anxiety symptoms at or above the study threshold. Suicidal ideation was associated with cough severity, cough-specific health status, and anxiety and depression symptoms (all p≤0.02). It was not associated with age, sex, cough duration, or the presence of treatable traits.
The findings indicate a substantial burden of psychological symptoms in this specialist-clinic population and support attention to mental health during RCC care. The study was observational, so it cannot establish causality; the abstract does not report whether assessment or intervention changes outcomes.
In practice
In patients with refractory chronic cough attending specialist care, suicidal ideation and symptoms of depression and anxiety were reported by a notable minority; ideation was associated with cough severity, cough-related health status, and psychological symptoms. The findings support considering psychological wellbeing, including suicidal ideation, in RCC assessment. However, this observational clinic-based study does not show that screening or intervention improves outcomes, and its prevalence estimates may not apply to other patient populations.
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ERJ Open Research: Prevalence of suicidal ideation in patients with refractory chronic cough ↗This is an automated AI-condensed summary that has not yet been reviewed by an editor. Always consult the full item at the original source.