What Researchers Did
Researchers investigated the effect of hyperbaric oxygenation as part of comprehensive outpatient rehabilitation on clinical and functional parameters in 45 COVID-19 convalescents.
What They Found
Patients with more severe initial pneumonia (CT-2-3) were older, had higher body weight and fat mass, and presented with high cholesterol (6.5±1.2 mmol/L) and subnormal C-reactive protein (9.3 mg/L). Following comprehensive rehabilitation, patients in the CT-0 group showed a significant increase in their 6-minute walking test distance, improving from 467.9±37.7 m to 531.5±44.3 m.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Canadian patients recovering from COVID-19, especially those with less severe initial lung involvement, may benefit from comprehensive outpatient rehabilitation programs that include hyperbaric oxygenation. Such interventions could lead to practical improvements in functional capacity, like increased walking distance, aiding their recovery.
Canadian Relevance
This study has no direct Canadian connection.
Study Limitations
The study involved a relatively small sample size of 45 patients, and the abstract provided incomplete results, limiting comprehensive interpretation.