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Systematic review and meta-analysis: proton pump inhibitors slightly decrease the severity of chronic cough

Floria DE, Obeidat M, Kávási SB, Teutsch B, Veres DS, Hagymási K, Hegyi P, Drug VL et al.

Scientific reports, 2024

4 citations

Abstract

The Montreal consensus recognizes chronic cough as an extra-esophageal manifestation of gastroesophageal reflux disease. We performed a meta-analysis to assess the effects of acid-suppressive medications in adults with non-specific chronic cough. The protocol was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42022368769). Placebo-controlled randomized trials evaluating the impact of acid-suppressive medications on persistent cough were included. The systematic search was performed on the 1st of November 2022 in three databases. A random-effects model was used for the calculations. The effect size was the standardized mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence interval (CI). A total number of 11 double-blinded placebo-controlled randomized trials were included in the meta-analysis. Data showed that compared to placebo, PPIs decreased the severity of cough (SMD 0.33; CI 0.05; 0.61). Therapeutic response was not different in patients with non-specific chronic cough only, compared to those with laryngopharyngeal reflux. Prolonged treatment durations did not result in greater symptomatic improvement, with SMD 0.33 (CI - 0.22; 0.88), 0.31 (CI - 1.74; 2.35), 0.32 (CI - 0.29; 0.93) and 0.34 (CI - 0.16; 0.85), following 4, 6, 8 and 12 weeks of treatment, respectively. The pooled analysis of the improvement in quality of life with PPIs found an SMD of 0.39 (CI - 0.51; 1.29). PPIs mildly decrease the severity of non-specific chronic cough, irrespective of treatment duration.

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