Phenotyping cough in lung cancer: a focus on productive cough and its link to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in a Vietnamese cohort

Cough is a primary symptom in lung cancer that severely diminishes patient quality of life. However, specific clinical data for Vietnamese patients remain limited, hindering targeted treatment. This study sought to characterize cough and identify its key drivers within this specific demographic. A cross-sectional study was performed from January 2025 to May 2025 at the Ho Chi Minh City Oncology Hospital, enrolling 392 patients aged 18 years and older exhibiting cough symptoms. A survey collected data on cough duration, characteristics, intensity (visual analogue scale for cough, VAS-C), and epidemiological factors, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), smoking status, and treatment. Chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests, together with multivariable logistic regression, were employed for analysis. Among 392 patients, productive cough was present in 61.2%. The logistic regression model determined that concomitant COPD is the most significant independent risk factor for productive cough (adjusted odds ratios ([aOR]=52.46; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 10.57–260.45; p<0.001). Each year of increased age also raised the odds by 5% (aOR=1.05; p=0.001), while smoking cessation for ≥6 months significantly reduced the risk compared to current smokers (aOR=0.06; p=0.009) In our Vietnamese lung cancer cohort, productive cough is the dominant presentation. The occurrence is strongly associated with underlying COPD and older age, whereas quitting smoking offers significant protection. These results emphasize the necessity of integrating COPD management and robust smoking cessation support into oncological care to mitigate cough burden and enhance patient quality of life.