What Researchers Did
Canadian researchers at the University Health Network in Toronto measured blood pressure changes across 3,291 HBOT sessions to identify which patients experience clinically significant pressure rises.
What They Found
After each session, systolic blood pressure rose by an average of 6 mmHg in patients without hypertension and 16.2 mmHg in patients with hypertension. History of hypertension and a higher pre-session baseline blood pressure were the two strongest predictors of a significant post-HBOT blood pressure increase.
Canadian Relevance
This study was conducted at a Canadian academic hospital, making the data directly applicable to Canadian HBOT practice standards and patient safety protocols.
Study Limitations
As a retrospective single-centre study, it cannot account for differences in medication regimens, chamber protocols, or operator variation across institutions.