SynthesisDeutsches Arzteblatt international2013
Shortness of breath and cough in patients in palliative care.
Synthesis in Deutsches Arzteblatt international, 2013. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 15 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
15 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Symptoms During Outpatient Cancer Treatment and Options for Their ManagementDeutsches Arzteblatt international · 2021Pooled it
- Gender-stratified analyses of symptoms associated with life-threatening events in patients calling out-of-hours primary care for shortness of breath.BMC primary care · 2025Article
- Application of Fan Therapy in Alleviating Dyspnea.Journal of multidisciplinary healthcare · 2025Review
- Article
- Accuracy of urgency allocation in patients with shortness of breath calling out-of-hours primary care: a cross-sectional study.BMC primary care · 2024Article
- Outcomes of COVID-19 Infections in children: A single-center retrospective study.Pediatric pulmonology · 2022Article
- Article
- [Dyspnea : A challenging symptom in the primary care setting].Der Internist · 2020Review
- Symptomatic treatment of dyspnea in advanced cancer patients : A narrative review of the current literature.Wiener medizinische Wochenschrift (1946) · 2018Review
- [Interprofessional symptom management at the end of life].Der Urologe. Ausg. A · 2018Article
- [Interprofessional symptom management at the end of life].Der Anaesthesist · 2017Review
- Palliative Care of Adult Patients With Cancer.Deutsches Arzteblatt international · 2015Review
- [Palliative care in otolaryngology].HNO · 2014Article
- In reply.Deutsches Arzteblatt international · 2013Article
- Connections are clearly more complexy.Deutsches Arzteblatt international · 2013Article
Corrections and comments
- Commented on by
- Commented on byIn reply.2013
Authors and funding
2 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundShortness of breath and cough are common, disturbing symptoms in patients receiving palliative care. They arise in 10% to 70% of patients with advanced cancer and in 60% to nearly 100% of patients with non-malignant underlying diseases, depending on the type of disease.
methodsThis review is based on a selective literature search in the Medline, Embase, and PsycInfo databases and on current recommendations from Germany and other countries, as well as on the authors' personal experience.
resultsSome general measures to address these problems are reassurance, development of an emergency plan, physical activity, and relaxation exercises. Supportive non-pharmacological measures may include the use of a rollator (level of evidence [LoE] 1-), a cool draft of air as from a handheld fan (LoE 1-), physiotherapy, and respiratory therapy. There is good evidence (LoE 1+) to support the administration of opioids as the medications of choice; benzodiazepines are often used, but a meta-analysis did not reveal any statistically significant benefit (LoE 1+). Expectorants can help patients who cough with marked sputum formation. Antitussants suppress the cough reflex both peripherally and centrally (LoE 1+ to 3). Opioids, including morphine (LoE 1-) and dextromethorphan (LoE 1-), are effective antitussants with low toxicity.
conclusionIn most patients, shortness of breath and cough can be relieved by a series of therapeutic measures.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.