What Researchers Did
The Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS) released a formal position statement addressing whether HBOT should be used for patients hospitalized with COVID-19.
What They Found
The position statement addressed two proposed mechanisms for HBOT in COVID-19: treating hypoxemia from lung damage, and reducing the cytokine storm driving ARDS. The UHMS acknowledged these theoretical rationales while calling for rigorous clinical trials before widespread adoption, recognizing the unusual nature of COVID-19 hypoxia and existing evidence gaps.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
During the pandemic, some Canadian patients and clinicians sought HBOT as a COVID-19 treatment. The UHMS position statement provided a framework for cautious, evidence-guided use during a period of rapid evidence generation.
Canadian Relevance
No direct Canadian connection identified. The position statement was issued by the main governing body for hyperbaric medicine in North America, making it directly relevant to HBOT centres across Canada.
Study Limitations
The position statement is brief and does not itself constitute clinical evidence; it reflects expert consensus at a specific point in the pandemic when outcome data were limited.