Presentation (CTI)

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the short-term real-world effectiveness of antibiotics combined with Suhuang Zhike Capsules versus antibiotics alone in the treatment of cough in China.
METHODS: Data were retrieved from the Regional Electronic Health Record (EHR) Database of Taizhou, China. Eligible patients were those who had cough as the chief complaint and received antibiotics either alone or combined with Suhuang Zhike Capsules. Propensity score matching (PSM) was applied to match patients at a 1:2 ratio into two groups: the combined treatment group (antibiotics + Suhuang Zhike Capsules) and the monotherapy group (antibiotics alone). Matching variables included demographic indicators, clinical characteristics, and concomitant medication use. The primary outcome was the cough-related revisit rate within 1 and 3 months after treatment initiation.
RESULTS: A total of 2,389 cough patients were enrolled in the study, with females accounting for 58.8% and a mean age of 50.2 ± 11.2 years. After PSM, a total of 927 patients were included in the analysis, with 309 patients in the combined treatment group and 618 patients in the monotherapy group. Baseline characteristics were balanced and comparable between the two groups. In terms of effectiveness, the cough-related revisit rates at 1 and 3 months in the combined treatment group were significantly lower than those in the monotherapy group (45.3% vs. 61.8%, P<0.001; 57.9% vs. 74.3%, P<0.001). The incidence of cough-related emergency visit or hospitalization was numerically lower in the combined treatment group at 1 and 3 months (16.2% vs. 17.2%, 23.3% vs. 26.4%, both P>0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: For cough patients who require antibiotic treatment in the real-world settings of China, the addition of Suhuang Zhike Capsules to antibiotics can significantly reduce the short-term cough-related revisit rate. This finding suggests the potential clinical value of this combination treatment for cough and provides a reference for clinical decision-making.