What Researchers Did
Researchers conducted a systematic review of medical literature to identify reported cases of factitious decompression sickness (DCS).
What They Found
The review identified one new case of factitious decompression sickness (DCS) treated in New Zealand, along with eight other confirmed or suspected cases found in the medical literature. The authors noted that other studies suggest 0.6% to 9.3% of hospital admissions are factitious, indicating factitious DCS may be more common than suspected.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
This study highlights that some patients may feign decompression sickness (DCS) symptoms to receive hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT). For Canadian patients, this means that healthcare providers need to carefully assess DCS symptoms to ensure HBOT resources are used for those who truly need it, preventing delays for genuine emergencies.
Canadian Relevance
This study covers decompression sickness (DCS), which is a Health Canada-recognized indication for hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
Study Limitations
The study's findings are limited to reported cases of factitious DCS, meaning the true prevalence of this condition may be higher due to under-recognition or misdiagnosis.