ArticleBMC cancer2020
A cross sectional study to determine the prevalence of cough and its impact in patients with lung cancer: a patient unmet need.
Article in BMC cancer, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 18 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
18 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 30 citations in OpenAlex.
- Non-Pharmacological Interventions for Cough in Patients With Lung Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Journal of clinical nursing · 2026Pooled it
- Pregabalin for chronic cough due to lung cancer: randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.British journal of cancer · 2025Trial
- Aprepitant for Cough in Lung Cancer. A Randomized Placebo-controlled Trial and Mechanistic Insights.American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine · 2021Trial
- The Effectiveness of Qigong in Managing a Cluster of Symptoms (Breathlessness-Fatigue-Anxiety) in Patients with Lung Cancer: A Randomized Controlled Trial.Integrative cancer therapiesTrial
- Innovative Tools and Perspectives in Cough Management: Cancer and Cough.Tuberculosis and respiratory diseases · 2026Review
- Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer: From Histopathological Classification to Precision Oncology-A Narrative Review.Journal of clinical medicine · 2026Review
- Symptom Clusters and Symptom Burden in Cancer Survivors.Cancer medicine · 2026Article
- Article
- The role of TRPA1 in lung cancer.Translational lung cancer research · 2025Review
- Flavonoids in the Treatment of Non-small Cell Lung Cancer via Immunomodulation: Progress to Date.Molecular diagnosis & therapy · 2025Review
- Multimodal integration strategies for clinical application in oncology.Frontiers in pharmacology · 2025Review
- Nationwide study of chronic codeine use and its impact on cough related diseases in South Korea.Scientific reports · 2024Article
- Efficacy of gefapixant, a P2XThe Journal of international medical research · 2023Article
- Distinct Shortness of Breath Profiles in Oncology Outpatients Undergoing Chemotherapy.Journal of pain and symptom management · 2023Article
- Recall Bias in the Assessment of Cough for Patients Discharged from Lung Surgery.Patient preference and adherence · 2023Article
- Post-Operative Poor Sleep Quality and Its Associated Factors Among Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study.Cancer management and research · 2023Article
- Effect of Conventional Nursing Combined with Bedtime Oculomotor Training on Sleep Quality and Body Immunity of Advanced Lung Cancer Patients.Journal of healthcare engineering · 2022Article
- Nursing and Allied Health Research Priorities in the Care of Patients With Thoracic Malignancies: An International Cross-Sectional Survey.Frontiers in oncology · 2020Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
7 authors at 4 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundThere is absence of literature related to cough prevalence and its characteristics in lung cancer patients, with information deriving only from broader symptoms occurrence studies. The aims of this study were to provide a snapshot of the prevalence of all-cause-cough in lung cancer patients and to characterise cough in terms of its impact and severity.
methodsA cross-sectional study recruiting consecutive lung cancer patients over a pre-defined period of time and using cough-specific validated tools in a tertiary referral centre in the UK, including a cough severity VAS and the Manchester Cough in Lung Cancer scale (MCLCS).
resultsData was collected from 202 patients. All-cause cough prevalence was 57% (through VAS) both in the screened (N = 223) and research (N = 202) population or 67% (through the MCLCS), and cough severity was moderate at a mean of 32 mm (in a 100 mm VAS). Age, sex, smoking status, lung cancer histology, stage and comorbidities were not associated with cough prevalence. The only variable associated with lower cough reports was being 'on anticancer treatment'; fewer patients on treatment reported a cough (40%) compared to those off treatment (54%) (p = 0.04). The impact of cough (as measured by MCLCS) was also significant (mean score = 22). About 18% of patients felt moderate/severe distress from their cough and about 15% often or always reported disturbed sleep due to coughing. Half the patients felt their cough warranted treatment.
conclusionsCough is a common symptom in lung cancer with considerable impact on patients' lives. Cough presence and severity should regularly be assessed in clinical practice. There is an urgent need to focus on developing more potent antitussive treatments and improve the management of this complex and distressing symptom.
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