A study to find out more about coughing in people with lung cancer (CLiC study)
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This study was done to understand more about cough in people with lung cancer.
We know that coughing can affect many areas of daily life such as communication, appetite and sleep. It can also cause pain and anxiety.
The research team doing this study wanted to understand more about cough and how to assess it in people with lung cancer.
The aims of the study were to look at people with lung cancer and
- Look at different tools to assess cough
- Find out more about cough
- Find factors that could predict how bad a cough could be
Summary of results
The research team found that there were good methods of assessing cough, and found factors that could help predict cough.
This study recruited 177 people with lung cancer. About 1 out of 5 had small cell lung cancer (SCLC), and about 4 out of 5 had non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
About 3 out of 5 people taking part had a cough that they felt was bad enough to need treatment.
The research team used a number of different ways of assessing cough in people with lung cancer. They found that cough recorders and some cough questionnaires were good ways of measuring cough, and that people with lung cancer have a severe cough.
They compared their results to results from other studies which had looked at people with other lung conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). They found that those with lung cancer had the most severe cough.
They looked at factors which could help predict how bad a cough would be, and found that it is likely to be worse if you
- Are a woman
- Are less able than normal to be up and about and look after yourself (what doctors call a poor performance status)
- Have asthma
- Have a chest infection
- Have indigestion or sickness
They found that how severe a cough was did not depend on factors related to the cancer itself, or on smoking.
The study team concluded that cough could be assessed and certain factors can help predict how bad it will be. They hope that this information will be used to help plan future trials looking at treatment for cough in lung cancer patients.
We have based this summary on information from the team who ran the study. As far as we are aware, the information they sent us has not been reviewed independently (
Recruitment start:
Recruitment end:
How to join a clinical trial
Please note: In order to join a trial you will need to discuss it with your doctor, unless otherwise specified.
Chief Investigator
Professor Alexander Molassiotis
Supported by
NIHR Clinical Research Network: Cancer
The Christie NHS Foundation Trust
If you have questions about the trial please contact our cancer information nurses
Freephone 0808 800 4040