Fan Therapy for Alleviating Dyspnea in Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Area of Science:

• Respiratory Medicine
• Symptom Management
• Nonpharmacologic Interventions

Background:

• Dyspnea is a common and distressing symptom.
• Fan therapy is a simple, nonpharmacologic intervention with potential benefits for dyspnea.
• Existing evidence on fan therapy's effectiveness requires updating and expansion.

Purpose of the Study:

• To update and expand evidence on fan therapy's effectiveness and patient perceptions in adults with dyspnea.
• To inform clinical symptom management strategies for dyspnea.
• To evaluate fan therapy as an adjunct treatment.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review following PRISMA 2020 guidelines.
• Comprehensive literature search across multiple databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, etc.).
• Independent screening, data extraction, risk of bias assessment, and quantitative/qualitative synthesis.

Main Results:

• Included 15 studies with 623 participants.
• Meta-analysis showed no significant overall effect on dyspnea severity, but a short-term reduction within 5-10 minutes.
• No significant differences in physiological parameters or other outcomes; qualitative data showed positive patient and clinician perceptions.

Conclusions:

• Fan therapy may provide short-term dyspnea relief in adults.
• Limited evidence for sustained benefits or effects on physiological outcomes.
• Considered a practical, low-cost adjunct for dyspnea management, especially in resource-limited settings.