Cough affects approximately 90% of people with chronic respiratory diseases (CRD). Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is a cornerstone intervention to manage respiratory symptoms, but its effects on cough have been scarcely reported. We explored the effects of PR on cough-related quality of life (CRQoL) in people with CRD.

Retrospective data from 2 RCTs were sought and data from people with stable CRD with adherence to PR?65% were pooled. Total scores of the Leicester Cough Questionnaire (LCQ) (0-21 points: higher scores indicate high CRQoL) were compared before and after PR with the Wilcoxon test. The mean and individual differences were compared with the minimal clinically important difference of the LCQ (MCID ? 1.3 points). A sub-analysis was performed with people scoring below the lower limit of normal for the LCQ (? 17) at baseline.

75 participants were included (80% male; 69±8.43 years old; 81% COPD). There was no significant difference in the LCQ score from pre to post PR (Pre 18 [IQR 15-20] vs. Post 19 [IQR 16-21]; median diff. 0.6; p=0.4) and 27(36%) participants achieved the MCID (Fig. 1). From those with low CRQoL at baseline (n=32; 43%), 14 (44%) reached the MCID.

PR contributed to minor improvements in CRQoL in people with CRD, specifically among those with cough-impaired QoL. Further work is warranted to determine the optimal intervention for improving cough symptoms in this population.