Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42101672›Full record

Observational studyLung2026

Burden of Chronic Cough and Refractory/Unexplained Chronic Cough in South Korea: A Multicenter, Observational Study (CHORUS).

Ji-Su Shim, Min-Hye Kim, Sung-Yoon Kang, Ji-Ho Lee, Eun-Jung Jo, Byung-Jae Lee, Sang-Heon Cho, JeeEun Jang, Woo-Jung Song

Abstract readMulticenter StudyObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in Lung, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Ji-Su ShimDepartment of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea.
Min-Hye KimDepartment of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea.
Sung-Yoon KangDepartment of Internal Medicine, Gachon University Gil Medical Center, Incheon, South Korea.
Ji-Ho LeeDepartment of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, South Korea.
Eun-Jung JoDepartment of Internal Medicine, Pusan National University College of Medicine, Busan, South Korea.
Byung-Jae LeeDivision of Allergy, Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
Sang-Heon ChoDivision of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
JeeEun JangMSD Korea Ltd., Seoul, South Korea.
Woo-Jung SongDepartment of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 88, Olympic-ro 43-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul, 05505, Republic of Korea. swj0126@amc.seoul.kr.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeRefractory or unexplained chronic cough (RUCC) represents an unmet clinical need. This study aimed to explore the components constituting the disease burden in patients with RUCC by comparing clinical features, healthcare use, and patient-reported outcomes with those of chronic cough (CC) of recent onset (< 1 year).

methodsA total of 200 individuals were prospectively enrolled from seven referral clinics in South Korea, including 100 with RUCC and 100 with CC of recent onset (< 1 year). Data were obtained through structured interviews and medical record reviews. Measures included general and cough-specific quality-of-life, mood, cough hypersensitivity symptoms, work productivity, and healthcare utilization.

resultsIndividuals with RUCC were significantly older than those with CC (57.5 ± 15.1 vs. 48.9 ± 17.6 years) and had markedly longer cough duration (median 80 vs. 4 months). The RUCC group demonstrated higher out-of-pocket costs, more healthcare facility visits, and greater numbers of diagnostic tests and prescribed medications. However, cough-specific and general health-related quality of life scores showed no significant differences. Correlation analysis revealed comparable but stronger associations between cough-specific quality-of-life and general health outcomes in RUCC than in CC.

conclusionRUCC imposes a substantial and multidimensional burden that extends beyond symptom severity. Chronicity, healthcare complexity, and psychosocial impact appear to be central features. Future evaluation tools should incorporate time and lived experience to more accurately capture the true burden of chronic cough.

Indexed as

Chronic CoughCost of IllnessCoughQuality of LifeAdultAgedChronic DiseaseEfficiencyFemaleHealth ExpendituresHumansMaleMiddle AgedPatient Acceptance of Health CarePatient Reported Outcome MeasuresProspective StudiesChronic coughDisease burdenRefractory coughUnexplained cough

Identifiers

PMID42101672
PMCPMC13156121

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.