Meta-Analysis Medicine (Baltimore) 2018

Treatment with normobaric or hyperbaric oxygen and its effect on neuropsychometric dysfunction after carbon monoxide poisoning: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Lin C, Su W, Chen Y, Feng P, Shen W, Ong J, et al., Medicine (Baltimore), 2018

View Original on PubMed PMID 30278526

Tier 1, Curated

Manually reviewed and included in the Canada Hyperbarics research database.

Summary

What Researchers Did

Researchers combined the results of six randomized controlled trials comparing hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) with normobaric oxygen therapy for treating carbon monoxide poisoning.

What They Found

This meta-analysis of six randomized trials found lower rates of neuropsychological problems in patients treated with HBOT compared to normobaric oxygen, though the confidence intervals for these differences included the possibility of no effect. Headache occurred in 16.2% of HBOT patients versus 16.5% with normobaric oxygen; memory impairment in 18.2% versus 23.8%; difficulty concentrating in 15.0% versus 18.4%; and disturbed sleep in 14.7% versus 16.2%. The review also found that two HBOT sessions showed no advantage over one session.

Canadian Relevance

No direct Canadian connection identified.

Study Limitations

The analysis was based on only six trials, and the confidence intervals around each outcome crossed the point of no difference, meaning the apparent benefits of HBOT were not statistically confirmed.

This plain-language summary was generated with AI assistance from the study's abstract; it has not been individually reviewed by a clinician. Always consult the source study and a qualified healthcare professional. See our editorial policy.

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Study Details

Study Type	Meta-Analysis
Category	Neurological
Source	Pubmed
PubMed ID	30278526
Year Published	2018
Journal	Medicine (Baltimore)
MeSH Terms	Carbon Monoxide Poisoning; Carboxyhemoglobin; Disease Progression; Humans; Hyperbaric Oxygenation; Memory Disorders; Nervous System Diseases; Outcome Assessment, Health Care; Oxygen Inhalation Therapy; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Sleep Wake Disorders; Treatment Outcome

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