What Researchers Did
Researchers conducted a systematic review to evaluate the clinical efficacy and utility of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) for treating long COVID, analyzing ten clinical studies published between January 2019 and October 2023.
What They Found
The review identified ten clinical studies, including three randomized controlled trials, which investigated hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) for long COVID. Most studies indicated that HBOT improved quality of life, fatigue, cognition, neuropsychiatric symptoms, and cardiopulmonary function among patients.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
While hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) shows some promise for alleviating long COVID symptoms like fatigue and cognitive issues, Canadian patients should be aware that current evidence is not yet conclusive. Further robust studies are needed to establish clear treatment protocols and indications before HBOT can be widely recommended.
Canadian Relevance
This systematic review did not include any studies specifically conducted in Canada or with a direct Canadian connection.
Study Limitations
The review highlights that the included studies were often small or lacked rigorous design, emphasizing the need for more large-scale, randomized controlled trials to confirm HBOT's efficacy and establish precise treatment protocols.