What Researchers Did
This living systematic review updated its search to assess the efficacy and safety of hyperbaric oxygen treatment for acute hypoxaemic COVID-19 patients.
What They Found
Two new randomized controlled trials, enrolling 127 patients, were added to the review, bringing the total to eight studies with 224 patients, 114 of whom received HBOT. All studies reported improved clinical outcomes with no serious adverse events, though meta-analysis was not possible due to high heterogeneity.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Canadian patients with acute hypoxaemic COVID-19 might consider hyperbaric oxygen treatment as a potentially safe option to improve clinical outcomes. However, further robust research is needed before widespread adoption.
Canadian Relevance
This systematic review was conducted by Canadian researchers, making its findings directly relevant to Canadian healthcare discussions and treatment protocols for COVID-19.
Study Limitations
The high heterogeneity and incomplete reporting across the included studies, along with varying risks of bias, limited the ability to perform a meta-analysis and draw definitive conclusions.