Chronic Cough's Double-Edged Sword
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By
August 22, 2024
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5 min
A retrospective analysis of electronic health records found that patients with chronic cough were twice as likely to be prescribed opioid-containing cough suppressants. The study included 23,210 chronic cough patients and 229,538 non-chronic cough patients, revealing that 21% of chronic cough patients received opioid-containing cough suppressants prescriptions within 1 year of their diagnosis. The research emphasizes the need for more effective non-opioid drugs to treat chronic cough and improved diagnostic strategies.
1. Patients with chronic cough were twice as likely to be prescribed opioid-containing cough suppressants. 2. 21% of chronic cough patients received opioid-containing cough suppressant prescriptions within 1 year of diagnosis. 3. Medicaid recipients were significantly more likely to receive opioid-containing cough suppressant prescriptions. 4. The study found an increase in opioid-containing cough suppressants prescribing over the study period. 5. The research indicates a need for more effective non-opioid drugs to treat chronic cough and better implementation of diagnostic strategies to determine the cause of the cough.
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