TY - JOUR
T1 - Frequency and Symptomatology of Hiccups in Patients With Cancer
T2 - Using an On-Line Medical Community to Better Understand the Patient Experience
AU - Ehret, Christopher
AU - Young, Colleen
AU - Ellefson, Christine J.
AU - Aase, Lee A.
AU - Jatoi, Aminah
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2021.
PY - 2022/2
Y1 - 2022/2
N2 - Background: Cancer patients are at risk for hiccups, but the incidence and impact on quality of life are unclear. Methods: A survey (modified from the Functional Living Index with the inclusion of qualitative elements) was developed and launched on an 80,000-member medical social media platform, Mayo Clinic Connect https://connect.mayoclinic.org/. Results: Among 213 respondents, 34 (16%; 95% CI: 11, 22%) reported “yes” that they had experienced hiccups with cancer therapy. Of those patients who reported hiccups, only 12 (35%) were men, and most were older than 50 years of age. Over 25% noted that hiccups occurred frequently around the time of cancer therapy; 30% described that hiccups interfered with their leisure or recreational activities; and over 15% described hiccups interfered with their ability to enjoy a meal. A few patients seemed to express frustration with hiccups with comments such as, “Totally uncontrollable,” “It’s extremely pain[ful] with throat cancer,” and “Once I had them bad. Almost choked.” Conclusion: Hiccups occur in16% of patients who are receiving cancer therapy and, by our estimates and extrapolation, appear highly problematic in approximately 5%.
AB - Background: Cancer patients are at risk for hiccups, but the incidence and impact on quality of life are unclear. Methods: A survey (modified from the Functional Living Index with the inclusion of qualitative elements) was developed and launched on an 80,000-member medical social media platform, Mayo Clinic Connect https://connect.mayoclinic.org/. Results: Among 213 respondents, 34 (16%; 95% CI: 11, 22%) reported “yes” that they had experienced hiccups with cancer therapy. Of those patients who reported hiccups, only 12 (35%) were men, and most were older than 50 years of age. Over 25% noted that hiccups occurred frequently around the time of cancer therapy; 30% described that hiccups interfered with their leisure or recreational activities; and over 15% described hiccups interfered with their ability to enjoy a meal. A few patients seemed to express frustration with hiccups with comments such as, “Totally uncontrollable,” “It’s extremely pain[ful] with throat cancer,” and “Once I had them bad. Almost choked.” Conclusion: Hiccups occur in16% of patients who are receiving cancer therapy and, by our estimates and extrapolation, appear highly problematic in approximately 5%.
KW - adverse event
KW - chemotherapy
KW - dexamethasone
KW - hiccups
KW - side effect
KW - singultus
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U2 - 10.1177/10499091211006923
DO - 10.1177/10499091211006923
M3 - Article
C2 - 33792359
AN - SCOPUS:85103605120
SN - 1049-9091
VL - 39
SP - 147
EP - 151
JO - American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine
JF - American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine
IS - 2
ER -