Cough Suppression Therapy in Patients With Chronic Refractory Cough and Oropharyngeal Dysphagia.

Purpose: Chronic refractory cough (CRC), defined as cough lasting over 8 weeks despite medical intervention, is a prevalent condition with a number of associated comorbidities. Cough suppression therapy (CST) has been demonstrated to be a promising avenue for treating CRC by improving airway control and coordination. However, little is known about the effects of CST in CRC patients diagnosed with comorbid oropharyngeal dysphagia (DYS) despite a large subset of patients with both conditions. The purpose of this study was to determine if CST affects self-assessment of DYS severity in patients diagnosed with both CRC and oropharyngeal DYS.

Method: The charts of 106 patients with a primary diagnosis of CRC who completed CST were reviewed. A total of 30 age- and gender-matched individuals, 15 with CRC and oropharyngeal DYS (CRC + DYS) and 15 with CRC only, were identified. All patients underwent stroboscopic examinations by an otolaryngologist and completed the Cough Severity Index and Eating Assessment Tool-10 surveys. Statistical analyses were conducted to compare pre- and posttreatment symptom severity, gender, age, race/ethnicity, and comorbidities.

Results: Self-reported severity of DYS decreased in all 15 CRC + DYS patients, and their average post-treatment score was statistically similar to that of patients with only CRC. Both groups had comparable reductions in their self-assessment of cough severity. The two groups presented no statistically significant difference in pretreatment cough severity, treatment duration, number of treatment sessions, comorbidities, age, and gender.

Conclusion: These findings suggest that CRC patients with oropharyngeal DYS and no evidence of aspiration had statistically significant improved self-assessment of swallowing disorder severity when treated with CST.