What Researchers Did
Researchers in China studied 80 patients with cognitive impairment after an acute ischaemic stroke, comparing a group receiving standard drug therapy with a group that also received hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT).
What They Found
The group receiving HBOT along with standard drugs showed a significantly higher response rate (p=0.04) and better cognitive function scores (p<0.05) at the end of treatment. This combination therapy also led to significantly reduced inflammatory markers (p<0.05) and a lower rate of adverse drug reactions (p=0.03) two weeks after treatment.
Canadian Relevance
No direct Canadian connection identified. This study covers post-stroke cognitive impairment, which is not a Health Canada-recognised indication for HBOT.
Study Limitations
The study was conducted at a single hospital with a relatively small number of patients, which may limit how broadly these findings can be applied.