What Researchers Did
Researchers conducted a systematic review of nine small randomized trials involving 201 participants to assess the safety and effectiveness of normobaric and hyperbaric oxygen therapy for migraine and cluster headaches.
What They Found
Pooling data from three trials suggested that hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) was effective in relieving acute migraine headaches compared to sham therapy (relative risk 5.97, P = 0.01). However, there was no evidence that HBOT could prevent migraine episodes, and the review included only nine small trials with a total of 201 participants.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Canadian patients experiencing acute migraine might find relief with hyperbaric oxygen therapy, though more robust research is needed to confirm its widespread effectiveness. However, this therapy does not appear to prevent migraine episodes, and its availability and cost-effectiveness in Canada would need to be considered.
Canadian Relevance
This systematic review did not include any studies conducted in Canada, so its direct Canadian relevance is limited.
Study Limitations
The review was limited by the small number and size of the included trials, involving only 201 participants in total.