The clinical characteristics and outcomes of different inhaled therapies in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients with frequent cough

Cough is a common symptom in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Patients with cough may exhibit various clinical characteristics and experience varying outcomes based on inhaled therapies they receive. This study aimed to explore the clinical characteristics and outcomes of various inhaled therapies in COPD patients with frequent cough. This was a multicenter, prospective cohort study. Of these patients, the median cough score in COPD assessment test (CAT) was two. Patients were classified into frequent cough group if they scored two or over in the first item of CAT and infrequent cough group otherwise. Patients with frequent cough were then divided into long-acting antimuscarinic (LAMA), long-acting beta2-agonist (LABA)/LAMA, inhaled corticosteroids (ICS)/LABA and ICS/LABA/LAMA groups. Minimum clinically important difference (MCID) (CAT scores decreased ≥2 from baseline) and the improvement of cough (cough score decreased ≥1 from baseline) were collected in the six-month follow-up. Frequent exacerbations (experiencing at least two exacerbations) were collected in the one-year follow-up. Of 906 patients, 581 (64.1%) patients reported frequent cough at the initial visit. Frequent cough was associated with the current smokers and CAT scores (