Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment for Long-COVID syndrome: A Systematic Review of Current Evidence on Cognitive Decline | Canada Hyperbarics Skip to main content
Systematic Review Undersea Hyperb Med 2025

Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment for Long-COVID syndrome: A Systematic Review of Current Evidence on Cognitive Decline

Zamora F, Santos A, Zamora A, Galvao L, Pimenta N, Salles J, et al. — Undersea Hyperb Med, 2025

Tier 1, Curated

Manually reviewed and included in the Canada Hyperbarics research database.

Summary

What Researchers Did

Researchers conducted a systematic review of 7 studies involving 199 patients to evaluate whether HBOT improves thinking, memory, and fatigue in people with long COVID.

What They Found

Across the studies, HBOT at 2.0–2.5 ATA for 10 to 60 sessions improved memory, attention, executive function, fatigue, and pain in long COVID patients. Side effects were minimal and none were serious. Both randomised controlled trials and observational studies showed benefit.

Canadian Relevance

No direct Canadian connection identified. Long COVID is not currently an OHIP-covered HBOT indication.

Study Limitations

The review included only 199 patients across 7 studies, making it too small to draw firm conclusions, and study protocols varied widely in pressure, session count, and outcome measures.

This plain-language summary is generated with AI assistance and checked against the source abstract before publication. See our editorial policy.

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Study Details

Study Type Systematic Review
Category Neurological
Source Pubmed
PubMed ID 41223394
Year Published 2025
Journal Undersea Hyperb Med
MeSH Terms Humans; Hyperbaric Oxygenation; Cognitive Dysfunction; COVID-19; Executive Function; Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome; Attention; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Fatigue

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Disclaimer: This study summary is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice. The information presented reflects the findings of the original research authors and may not represent the views of Canada Hyperbarics. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making treatment decisions.

Last reviewed: March 19, 2026 | Reviewed by: Canada Hyperbarics Editorial Team | Editorial process | Research sources | Counts & methodology