Most Chronic Cough Patients Do Not Achieve Patient-Defined Control Post-Treatment

For patients with chronic cough, particularly refractory cases, the goal of treatment extends beyond simple symptom reduction to achieving a state of adequate control. While interventions like behavioral therapy or P2X3 antagonists can reduce cough frequency, clinicians know that statistical improvement does not always equate to patient satisfaction [1, 2, 3]. Guidelines for managing chronic conditions often define success through measurable changes, yet these metrics may not capture a patient's perception of whether their condition is truly managed [4, 5, 6]. This creates a clinical gap, highlighting the need for patient-anchored benchmarks that define what constitutes successful treatment from the perspective of the person experiencing the cough [7].