Chronic Cough Due To Stable Chronic Bronchitis

Publication Date: February 1, 2020
Last Updated: March 14, 2022

Recommendations

1. For adult patients, we suggest that smoking and dusty environmental exposures such as irritating inhalants and environmental pollutants are risk factors for chronic cough being due to chronic bronchitis. (U-CBS)
Remarks: Smoking is associated with chronic cough. Smoking cessation should always be encouraged, particularly for patients with chronic lung disease -- including chronic bronchitis.
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2. For adult patients with chronic cough due to stable chronic bronchitis, there is insufficient evidence to recommend the routine use of any pharmacologic treatments (antibiotics, bronchodilators, mucolytics) as a means of relieving cough per se until such treatments have been shown to be safe and effective at making cough less severe or resolve sooner. (U-CBS)
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3. For adult patients with cough due to stable chronic bronchitis, we do not suggest the routine use of non-pharmacologic treatments such as positive end expiratory pressure as a means of relieving cough per se until such treatments have been shown to be safe and effective at making cough less severe or resolve sooner. (U-CBS)
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Recommendation Grading

Overview

Title

Chronic Cough Due To Stable Chronic Bronchitis

Authoring Organization

American College of Chest Physicians

Publication Month/Year

February 1, 2020

Last Updated Month/Year

December 16, 2024

Document Type

Guideline

External Publication Status

Published

Country of Publication

US

Document Objectives

Chronic cough due to chronic bronchitis (CB) causes significant impairment in quality of life, and effective treatment strategies are needed. We conducted a systematic review on the management of chronic cough due to CB to update the recommendations and suggestions of the American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST) 2006 guideline on this topic.

Target Patient Population

Patients with chronic bronchitis

Inclusion Criteria

Female, Male, Adolescent, Adult, Older adult

Health Care Settings

Ambulatory, Long term care, Outpatient, School

Intended Users

Nurse, nurse practitioner, physician, physician assistant

Scope

Assessment and screening, Diagnosis, Management, Treatment

Diseases/Conditions (MeSH)

D003371 - Cough, D001991 - Bronchitis, D029481 - Bronchitis, Chronic

Keywords

nonpharmacological treatment, bronchitis, pharmacologic, cough, chronic cough

Source Citation

Malesker MA, Callahan-Lyon P, Madison JM, Ireland B, Irwin RS; CHEST Expert Cough Panel. Chronic Cough Due to Stable Chronic Bronchitis: CHEST Expert Panel Report. Chest. 2020 Aug;158(2):705-718. doi: 10.1016/j.chest.2020.02.015. Epub 2020 Feb 24. PMID: 32105719.

Supplemental Methodology Resources

Data Supplement

Methodology

Number of Source Documents
125
Literature Search Start Date
July 26, 2017
Literature Search End Date
June 19, 2018