What Researchers Did
Researchers looked back at sleep quality changes in 395 patients with healthy aging, long COVID, or PTSD after they completed 60 hyperbaric oxygen therapy sessions at 2.0 ATA for 90 minutes, five days a week.
What They Found
Total sleep quality scores significantly improved in all 395 patients after HBOT (p<0.001), with the biggest gains seen in those who started with poorer sleep (PSQI scores above 5). Specific improvements were noted in subjective sleep quality, how long it took to fall asleep, and sleep disturbances across all groups, while daytime dysfunction improved for aging and long COVID patients.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
This study suggests HBOT could be a potential option for Canadians experiencing sleep disturbances related to aging, long COVID, or PTSD. It highlights that patients with more severe sleep issues might benefit most from a protocol of 60 sessions. This could offer a non-pharmacological approach to improving sleep for these specific conditions.
Canadian Relevance
No direct Canadian connection identified.
Study Limitations
This retrospective study design means researchers looked back at existing data, which can limit the ability to control all factors and establish direct cause-and-effect.