PURPOSE: Cough is one of the most common symptoms of respiratory tract infections and it is a frequent problem encountered in general practice leading to a medical consultation. There are many studies that show the use of NSAIDs for the treatment of cough. Moreover cough often requires treatment with antitussives as it could have a great impact on quality of adults’ life.

METHODS: This is an observational, prospective study evaluating 149 patients affected by upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) treated with a combination of antitussives and NSAIDs. A Verbal Category Descriptive score (VCD) was used to evaluate cough, considering two periods, 7 and 10 days respectively, from the beginning of the treatment. On VCD score was also conducted an analysis on persistence of cough (Kaplan Meier) taking into account absence of coughing (VCD score=0) or its presence (VCD score>0). The combination of levodropropizine and ketoprofen lysine salt (KLS) is widely used in numerous clinical studies.

RESULTS: We observed a statistically significant difference (p=0,0227) in terms of days required for a complete resolution of cough between the group receiving KLS in combination with levodropropizine (a peripheral antitussive) and the group treated with KLS in combination with central antitussives, in favor of the first one . In the group treated with KLS and central antitussives the median persistence of cough was 11 days, while in the group treated with the combination KLS and levodropropizine the median was 7 days.

CONCLUSIONS: Either central and peripheral antitussives with different NSAIDs is efficacious in the reduction of coughing days. Moreover the combination levodropropizine and KLS shows better result compared with other combinations.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: The association of antitussive and NSAIDs could be an effective therapy for URTI related cough, and the better result are achieved by the combination ketoprofen lysine salt and levodropropizine.

DISCLOSURE: The following authors have nothing to disclose: Alessandro Zanasi, Luigi Lanata, Federico Saibene, Massimiliano Mazzolini

Estratto da: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0012369217325035