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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%.

ObjectivesDexamethasone causes hiccups in an undefined percentage of patients, and these hiccups are often ignored (‘My doctors just shook their heads like I was joking …’). This study sought to learn the percentage of dexamethasone-treated patients who develop hiccups and to explore patients’ responses to the availability of educational materials on hiccups.MethodsEnglish-speaking, adult outpatients treated with oral, intravenous or epidural dexamethasone 2 weeks prior were contacted by phone and asked about hiccups. Educational materials were offered, and patients were queried on their opinion of the availability of such materials.ResultsOne hundred and twenty-seven patients or 11% (95% CI 9% to 13%) reported hiccups. This percentage was derived from 1186 reachable patients from 2000 total patients. Fifty-four (43%) of those with hiccups desired to learn about educational materials. Of these, 49 completed a single-item, 5-point scale item: 21 (43%) viewed the availability of educational materials ‘extremely helpful,’ providing a 5 rating; 8 (16%) provided a 4; 4 (8%) provided a 3; and 1 (4%) provided a 2.ConclusionsDexamethasone-induced hiccups occur in a small percentage of patients. The fact that most patients responded favourably to learning about the availability of educational materials suggests some have unmet needs.

Objective Because hiccup palliation remains an unmet clinical need, we report here on an early experience with Hiccupops, ® a patented product designed for the express purpose of providing a mechanism-based intervention for hiccup palliation. Methods Meter Health, the developer and manufacturer of this patented product, used a purposive sampling approach to allow individuals with hiccups and a desire for hiccup palliation to purchase their agent and then to report on its efficacy or lack thereof. The authors of this report were provided these outcome data and allowed to analyze, report, and publish with no input from Meter Health with the exception of comments on accuracy. Results This report focused on 43 surveys that were completed. In response to the question, “Did the Hiccupops work for the person they were purchased for?” 29 (67%) responded, “yes.” Seven individuals (16%) responded, “no;” and 7 (16%) were “not sure.” Write-in comments appeared to substantiate the effective palliative nature of the intervention: “A friend with 10 days of hiccups following… brain tumor surgery, after 2 days, they stopped!!!#.” Another noted the following: “I like that if my hiccups get painful they’re there as a quick relief.” Less favorable comments were also noted: “She couldn’t get past the…. taste.” Another read as follows: “They were not effective in stopping my father’s intractable hiccups…. I like that there is someone out there who cares about trying to stop people’s hiccups.” Conclusions This patented product appears to palliate hiccups in some individuals and merits further study.