Extract Respiratory symptoms are an important component of a clinical history and are often linked to worse patient outcomes [1 - 4]. In general populations, there is considerable variation in the prevalence of chronic cough, chronic phlegm, dyspnoea and wheeze across the globe [5 - 7], which has been associated with accelerated lung function decline and lower quality of life [8, 9].
Despite evidence demonstrating the importance of respiratory symptoms for the diagnosis and prognostication of respiratory disease, inconsistency in choice of symptom questionnaires can make it difficult to compare findings across cohorts. This is increasingly true for the clustering of symptoms used to define the presence of chronic bronchitis.
European Respiratory Journal published a clinical update in Critical Care on 19 Mar 2026.
The item focuses on Redefining chronic bronchitis: short-term symptoms or long-term burden?.
Review the original article for the full source wording and details.