This abstract explores cough intensity as a novel digital measure, using the RESP® Biosensor to quantify the amplitude of coughs during bouts compared to isolated coughs. Patients with chronic or subacute cough (n=360) were continuously monitored in real-world conditions, with cough events and bouts identified and annotated by trained respiratory therapists.

Analysis covered more than 222,000 cough events, of which nearly 72% occurred within bouts. Across 53,806 cough bouts, the average contained about three coughs, with most bouts consisting of two. Importantly, coughs within bouts were significantly more forceful: mean amplitude was 9.4% higher than isolated coughs, and peak amplitude was 47% higher (p<0.001).

These findings suggest that cough bouts not only occur frequently but also carry greater intensity, correlating with higher patient-reported severity. The results highlight cough amplitude, measured by the RESP® Biosensor, as a promising new endpoint for objectively characterizing the burden and impact of cough in clinical research and disease management.