Understanding how common persistent cough is in work-related lung disease

ISRCTN ISRCTN10790205
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN10790205
IRAS number 258563
Secondary identifying numbers IRAS 258563
Submission date
25/08/2023
Registration date
04/12/2023
Last edited
04/12/2023
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Respiratory
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data
Record updated in last year

Plain English summary of protocol

Background and study aims
This is a questionnaire study aimed at identifying the presence and severity of cough in patients attending occupational lung clinics. Persistent coughing has been associated with many occupational and environmental substances (e.g. flour, dust), however the prevalence and severity of cough in this population is unknown. In order to understand the reasons for cough in these patients and develop effective therapies, it is important to first understand the scale of the problem.
Patients attending the occupational clinic as part of their routine care will be asked if they are interested in taking part in a questionnaire study, they will be given the patient information sheet and allowed time to read and ask questions.
Their written consent will be obtained prior to administration of the questionnaires. Following the collection of their demographics and questionnaire completion, the participant will have completed the study. Their notes will be checked at a later date to obtain their final respiratory diagnosis.

Who can participate?
Any patient with a work-related lung condition, who has had a persistent cough for greater than 8 weeks.

What does the study involve?
Questionnaires about their health and cough symptoms.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
There are no risks to taking part, the study is simply a questionnaire with no sensitive information collected. There are no direct benefits to individuals taking part, however, this study may help us understand important symptoms and aid us to better treating patients in the future.

Where is the study run from?
Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (UK)

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
March 2021 to April 2025

Who is funding the study?
North West Lung Charity (UK)

Who is the main contact?
Dr Huda Badri
huda.badri@manchester.ac.uk

Contact information

Dr Huda Badri
Principal Investigator

Level 2 Education and Research Centre
Wythenshawe hospital
Manchester
M23 9LT
United Kingdom

ORCiD logoORCID ID 0000-0002-6134-4347
Phone +44 161 291 5031
Email huda.badri@manchester.ac.uk

Study information

Study designSingle centre observational study
Primary study designObservational
Secondary study designCohort study
Study setting(s)Hospital
Study typeOther
Participant information sheet 44186 COLD study PIS V1.1 17April2023.pdf
Scientific titleCough in Occupational Lung Disease
Study acronymCOLD
Study objectivesChronic cough is a troublesome condition that is defined by the presence of cough for >8 weeks. Neuronal dysfunction is now a recognised mechanism of refractory chronic cough. A wide variety of occupational lung conditions have recognised potential causes or exacerbating factors in persistent cough. Current guidelines now recommend screening employed patients for potential occupational and environmental causes of cough. However, the prevalence of persistent cough in the occupational lung disease population is unknown.

Chronic cough can be detrimental to the wellbeing of patients and there are no effective licensed therapies. Thus, early identification of patients with an occupational cause of persistent coughing is vital, as it can be necessary to alter their work environment or remove them from that workplace in order to treat them effectively.

Various studies have suggested that there are both direct and indirect mechanisms of occupational agents that can precipitate cough, e.g. stimulation of airway nerves and cough receptors by particulates such as construction dust, allergic inflammation from environmental allergens leading to inflammatory mediator release causing cough.

This research forms part of the initial exploratory work into potential neuronal mechanisms of occupation-induced cough and asthma. In order to develop studies to identify and investigate these mechanisms, we need to understand the patient demographics and identify the prevalence and severity of cough in this patient group.

Aim: To identify the prevalence of chronic cough in patients attending a specialist occupational lung clinic and to measure the effect of cough on their quality of life.
Ethics approval(s)

Approved 10/05/2023, Cambridge South (Equinox House, City Link, Nottingham, NG2 4LA, United Kingdom; +44 207 104 8084; cambridgesouth.rec@hra.nhs.uk), ref: 23/EE/0088

Health condition(s) or problem(s) studiedOccupational lung diseases (airways and pneumoconiosis)
InterventionOnce consented, participant demographics and whether they report a chronic cough will be recorded and the participant will be asked to complete the Leicester Cough Questionnaire and a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), which involved putting a mark on a 100-mm line to rate how severe their cough is. This is the end of the participant involvement, although their final diagnosis will be recorded once it is available in the participant's hospital records.
Intervention typeOther
Primary outcome measureThe presence of a chronic cough at the clinic visit, as determined by asking the participant.
Secondary outcome measures1. Leicester Cough Questionnaire score at the clinic visit.
2. Cough severity VAS score at the clinic visit.
3. Participant diagnosis, as determined by medical records following the clinic visit.
4. Participant demographics as recorded at the clinic visit.
Overall study start date22/03/2021
Completion date01/04/2025

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupAdult
Lower age limit18 Years
Upper age limit80 Years
SexBoth
Target number of participants100
Key inclusion criteria1. Patients aged 18 years and over, up to the age of 80.
2. Suspected/ confirmed occupational lung disease
3. Able to read English to allow for completion of written questionnaires
Key exclusion criteria1. Patients currently receiving ACE inhibitors.
2. Patients presenting with a cough of ≤8 weeks duration.
Date of first enrolment01/10/2023
Date of final enrolment01/10/2024

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • England
  • United Kingdom

Study participating centre

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust
Cobbett House
Oxford Road
Manchester
M13 9WL
United Kingdom

Sponsor information

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust
Hospital/treatment centre

Research Office
1st Floor Nowgen Building
Manchester
M13 9WU
England
United Kingdom

Phone +44 161 276 3340
Email lynne.webster@mft.nhs.uk
Website https://mft.nhs.uk/
ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/00he80998

Funders

Funder type

Charity

North West Lung Charity

No information available

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date01/04/2026
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareNo
IPD sharing plan summaryData sharing statement to be made available at a later date
Publication and dissemination planPlanned publication in a high-impact peer-reviewed journal
IPD sharing planThe current data sharing plans for this study are unknown and will be available at a later date

Study outputs

Output type Details Date created Date added Peer reviewed? Patient-facing?
Participant information sheet version 1.1 17/04/2023 01/11/2023 No Yes

Additional files

44186 COLD study PIS V1.1 17April2023.pdf

Editorial Notes

01/11/2023: Trial's existence confirmed by NHS HRA.