What Researchers Did
Researchers examined the breathing function of 111 patients with Bechterew's disease after they received hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
What They Found
The study observed that after 20 hyperbaric oxygen therapy sessions, most measurements of external respiration, or breathing function, returned to normal levels in the 111 patients with Bechterew's disease.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
For Canadian patients living with Bechterew's disease (ankylosing spondylitis) who experience breathing difficulties, this study suggests that hyperbaric oxygen therapy could potentially help improve their lung function. However, Bechterew's disease is not currently a Health Canada-recognized condition for HBOT, which impacts access and coverage in Canada.
Canadian Relevance
No direct Canadian connection identified.
Study Limitations
This study was conducted at a single clinic in 1989 and lacked a control group, which limits how broadly its findings can be applied.