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Breathlessness (dyspnoea) is one of the most distressing symptoms experienced by people living with lung cancer, yet the relative effectiveness of different non-drug management strategies has not been well established. This systematic review and network meta-analysis set out to compare the effectiveness of a range of nonpharmacological approaches in reducing breathlessness in lung cancer patients.
The researchers searched seven major databases and clinical trial registries for randomised controlled trials published up to June 2025. Forty-six randomised controlled trials involving 4,138 participants were included, covering ten distinct nonpharmacological strategies. A network meta-analysis was used to rank and compare all interventions simultaneously, even where head-to-head trials did not exist.
Across all lung cancer patients, acupressure emerged as the most effective intervention for reducing breathlessness, achieving the highest ranking score and a large effect size. Fan therapy (directing airflow across the face) ranked second, and multicomponent interventions — combining several approaches — ranked third. In patients who had undergone lung surgery, multicomponent interventions were the top-ranked strategy, followed by cognitive behavioural therapy. Among patients who had pre-existing breathlessness before any intervention, acupressure and fan therapy again led the rankings.
Conclusion: This large network meta-analysis suggests that acupressure is the most effective nonpharmacological strategy for relieving breathlessness in lung cancer patients overall, with fan therapy and multicomponent interventions also showing meaningful benefit in specific subgroups.
Source: Hu G, Koirala B, Young L et al. European respiratory review : an official journal of the European Respiratory Society (2026). View on PubMed (PMID 42203238) · doi:10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2023.03.002