Anxiety and Depression Diagnoses and the Cough Severity Index: A Retrospective Study

Gopika Hari, Matthew Naunheim, Dorina Kallogjeri, Molly Huston

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: As mental health comorbidities can impact patient perception of symptoms, understanding a potential association of anxiety and depression with patients’ perception of their cough may provide insight into preferred treatment plans. Methods: A retrospective cohort study of patients presenting with chronic cough was completed. Demographics, anxiety and depression diagnoses, and patient-reported outcome measures were collected. Patient-reported outcomes between the four groups of patients—anxiety only, depression only, anxiety and depression, and none of these conditions—were compared using Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney U tests that were used for post-hoc analysis. Results: Cough Severity Index scores were higher in those with both anxiety and depression as compared to neither, with a median score of 26 (range: 5-39) versus 19 (range: 1-38), respectively (P =.041). These results were persistent also after controlling for sex and smoking status in the robust regression analysis. Conclusions: Patients with prior diagnoses of anxiety and depression self-reported more severe symptoms for chronic cough. Adequately understanding the association of mental health with perceived cough severity may help for more individualized, successful treatment plans.

Original languageEnglish
JournalEar, Nose and Throat Journal
DOIs
StateAccepted/In press - 2023

Keywords

  • Cough
  • anxiety
  • depression
  • mental health

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