Interventions for Hiccups in Adults: A Scoping Review of Western and Eastern Approaches

Hiccups are caused by involuntary spasms of the diaphragm and external intercostal muscles. When persistent, they can significantly reduce the quality of life. However, comprehensive reviews of available treatments and their corresponding evaluation metrics remain scarce. This scoping review aimed t...

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Main Authors: Yohei Kishi, Moe Nakawaga, Anri Inumaru, Michiko Nambu, Miwa Sakaguchi, Mayumi Murabata, Mari Matsuoka, Jun Kako
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Mary Ann Liebert 2025-01-01
Series:Palliative Medicine Reports
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Online Access:https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/pmr.2024.0109
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author Yohei Kishi
Moe Nakawaga
Anri Inumaru
Michiko Nambu
Miwa Sakaguchi
Mayumi Murabata
Mari Matsuoka
Jun Kako
author_facet Yohei Kishi
Moe Nakawaga
Anri Inumaru
Michiko Nambu
Miwa Sakaguchi
Mayumi Murabata
Mari Matsuoka
Jun Kako
author_sort Yohei Kishi
collection DOAJ
description Hiccups are caused by involuntary spasms of the diaphragm and external intercostal muscles. When persistent, they can significantly reduce the quality of life. However, comprehensive reviews of available treatments and their corresponding evaluation metrics remain scarce. This scoping review aimed to comprehensively map the interventions used to treat hiccups in adults and clarify the current state of outcome measures employed in existing research. We conducted a scoping review following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) -ScR guidelines and the framework of Arksey and O’Malley. Using PubMed, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), and Ichushi-web databases, we identified studies published up to June 3, 2024. The search terms included “HICCUP,” “HICCOUGH,” and “SINGULTUS.” A total of 3248 articles were identified, with 499 duplicates removed. After screening 2749 titles and abstracts, 2708 articles were excluded. Full-text reviews of 41 articles led to the exclusion of 18, resulting in 23 that met the inclusion criteria. Of these, 17 studies focused on pharmacological interventions, including baclofen, metoclopramide, methylprednisolone, and Shitei-to, while 6 studies examined nonpharmacological interventions, such as acupuncture, infrared therapy, rebreathing techniques, and cervical epidural block. Outcome measures were categorized into objective and subjective evaluations. Objective measures included complete cessation, partial cessation, frequency reduction, and time to complete cessation. Subjective measures assessed the distress caused by hiccups using patient-reported scales, such as the numerical rating scale. This scoping review identified 23 studies on hiccup interventions, including five randomized controlled trials on pharmacological agents and one study on a nonpharmacological approach. Studies included both Western and Eastern medicine, offering new perspectives on hiccup management. The outcome measures were primarily objective, with some patient-reported assessments. These findings provide a foundation for future research on hiccup treatment and evaluation methods.
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spelling doaj-art-10c4c02c08354bbda50044b7a2817c4d2025-08-20T03:49:37ZengMary Ann LiebertPalliative Medicine Reports2689-28202025-01-016117117810.1089/pmr.2024.0109Interventions for Hiccups in Adults: A Scoping Review of Western and Eastern ApproachesYohei Kishi0Moe Nakawaga1Anri Inumaru2Michiko Nambu3Miwa Sakaguchi4Mayumi Murabata5Mari Matsuoka6Jun Kako7Graduate School of Medicine, Mie University, Tsu, Japan.Graduate School of Medicine, Mie University, Tsu, Japan.Graduate School of Medicine, Mie University, Tsu, Japan.Graduate School of Medicine, Mie University, Tsu, Japan.Graduate School of Medicine, Mie University, Tsu, Japan.Graduate School of Medicine, Mie University, Tsu, Japan.Graduate School of Medicine, Mie University, Tsu, Japan.Graduate School of Medicine, Mie University, Tsu, Japan.Hiccups are caused by involuntary spasms of the diaphragm and external intercostal muscles. When persistent, they can significantly reduce the quality of life. However, comprehensive reviews of available treatments and their corresponding evaluation metrics remain scarce. This scoping review aimed to comprehensively map the interventions used to treat hiccups in adults and clarify the current state of outcome measures employed in existing research. We conducted a scoping review following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) -ScR guidelines and the framework of Arksey and O’Malley. Using PubMed, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), and Ichushi-web databases, we identified studies published up to June 3, 2024. The search terms included “HICCUP,” “HICCOUGH,” and “SINGULTUS.” A total of 3248 articles were identified, with 499 duplicates removed. After screening 2749 titles and abstracts, 2708 articles were excluded. Full-text reviews of 41 articles led to the exclusion of 18, resulting in 23 that met the inclusion criteria. Of these, 17 studies focused on pharmacological interventions, including baclofen, metoclopramide, methylprednisolone, and Shitei-to, while 6 studies examined nonpharmacological interventions, such as acupuncture, infrared therapy, rebreathing techniques, and cervical epidural block. Outcome measures were categorized into objective and subjective evaluations. Objective measures included complete cessation, partial cessation, frequency reduction, and time to complete cessation. Subjective measures assessed the distress caused by hiccups using patient-reported scales, such as the numerical rating scale. This scoping review identified 23 studies on hiccup interventions, including five randomized controlled trials on pharmacological agents and one study on a nonpharmacological approach. Studies included both Western and Eastern medicine, offering new perspectives on hiccup management. The outcome measures were primarily objective, with some patient-reported assessments. These findings provide a foundation for future research on hiccup treatment and evaluation methods.https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/pmr.2024.0109hiccuphiccup measuresnonpharmacological interventionspharmacological interventionsscoping review
spellingShingle Yohei Kishi
Moe Nakawaga
Anri Inumaru
Michiko Nambu
Miwa Sakaguchi
Mayumi Murabata
Mari Matsuoka
Jun Kako
Interventions for Hiccups in Adults: A Scoping Review of Western and Eastern Approaches
Palliative Medicine Reports
hiccup
hiccup measures
nonpharmacological interventions
pharmacological interventions
scoping review
title Interventions for Hiccups in Adults: A Scoping Review of Western and Eastern Approaches
title_full Interventions for Hiccups in Adults: A Scoping Review of Western and Eastern Approaches
title_fullStr Interventions for Hiccups in Adults: A Scoping Review of Western and Eastern Approaches
title_full_unstemmed Interventions for Hiccups in Adults: A Scoping Review of Western and Eastern Approaches
title_short Interventions for Hiccups in Adults: A Scoping Review of Western and Eastern Approaches
title_sort interventions for hiccups in adults a scoping review of western and eastern approaches
topic hiccup
hiccup measures
nonpharmacological interventions
pharmacological interventions
scoping review
url https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/pmr.2024.0109
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