What Researchers Did
Researchers evaluated hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2) therapy as a therapeutic intervention for hospitalized COVID-19 patients with severe hypoxia prior to vaccine availability.
What They Found
Of 36 eligible patients, 24 received HBO2 therapy and 12 did not. Three of the 24 treated patients (13%) died, compared to six of 12 (50%) untreated patients (RR ratio: 0.25, p = 0.04). The treatment group showed a statistically significant reduction in inpatient mortality (HR: 0.19, p = 0.02).
What This Means for Canadian Patients
For Canadian patients with severe COVID-19 hypoxia, particularly in situations where vaccines are unavailable or ineffective, hyperbaric oxygen therapy might be a potential treatment option. This could offer a new avenue for improving survival rates in critically ill patients.
Canadian Relevance
This study has no direct Canadian connection as it was not conducted in Canada or with Canadian participants.
Study Limitations
The study was limited by a small sample size and differences in baseline characteristics between the treated and untreated groups, which could confound results.