Table 3 Cough characteristics in the study population

Is cough painful? ‘yes’, N (%) from those reporting cough

26 (23)

Does cough warrant treatment? ‘yes’, N (%) from those reporting cough

60 (52)

Is Cough Painful?

Median cough severity VAS score for those experiencing cough (25^th-75^th IQR)

32mm (20-51)

Higher score = worse cough severity (100mm scale)

Median MCLCS score for those experiencing cough (25^th-75^th IQR)

22 (16-27)

Higher score = worse cough impact; maximum possible score=40

N (%)

Cough reported

115 (57)

Initial assessment (n=223)

Cough reported

135 (67)

MCLCS data

Difficulty breathing because of cough^a

26 (19)

MCLCS data, (‘often’, ‘very often’, ‘all of the time’)

Disturbed sleep because of cough^a

20 (15)

MCLCS data, (‘often’, ‘very often’, ‘all of the time’)

Distress from cough^a

25 (18)

MCLCS data, (‘often’, ‘very often’, ‘all of the time’)

Frustration because of cough^a

40 (29)

MCLCS data, (‘often’, ‘very often’, ‘all of the time’)

Cough interrupts conversations^a

32 (23)

MCLCS data, (‘often’, ‘very often’, ‘all of the time’)

In control of your cough^a

69 (50)

MCLCS data, (not at all; some of the time)

Worry that cough means your condition is getting worse^a

43 (31)

MCLCS data, (‘often’, ‘very often’, ‘all of the time’)