Fig. 1

Study Design a Study populations. The index month corresponds to the first month during the selection period in which a chronic cough diagnosis was confirmed for each individual patient. In Population 1, this corresponds to the first documentation of a diagnostic code for chronic cough. In Population 2, this corresponds to the first new cough diagnosis observed within a 3-month window following any 3 month period during which at least two diagnostic cough codes were documented in two different months. The index month was preceded by a 6-month pre-index period, during which historical information on cough-related diagnoses was retrieved. The index month was followed by a twelve-month post-index period, during which information on treatments and cough and cough-related diagnoses were collected. CC: Chronic cough. b Study timelines, periods and dates. The selection period (blue and white bars; 1st July 2017 to 31st August 2019) corresponds to the period when patients could be included. The observation period (green and white bars; 1st July 2017 to 31st August 2020) corresponds to the selection period, together with the 12-month post-index period for each patient. The study period (black and white bars; 1st January 2017 to 31st August 2020) corresponds to the observation period, together with the 6-month pre-index period for each patient