Effect of hyperbaric oxygen on post-stroke depression

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Hyperbaric Medicine
• Diabetology

Background:

• Post-stroke depression (PSD) in diabetic patients presents complex challenges, requiring management of blood glucose, mood, and neurological deficits.
• Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy enhances tissue oxygenation, potentially protecting brain cells and restoring function, but its use in PSD is understudied.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the clinical efficacy of HBO therapy in diabetic patients suffering from post-stroke depression (PSD).

Main Methods:

• 190 diabetic patients with PSD were randomized into two groups: a control group receiving escitalopram oxalate and an observation group receiving escitalopram oxalate plus HBO therapy for eight weeks.
• Outcomes were assessed using the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), and laboratory markers including hypersensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and fasting glucose.

Main Results:

• Both groups showed significant improvements in MADRS and NIHSS scores. The HBO group exhibited greater reductions in NIHSS scores compared to the control group (P < 0.001).
• HBO therapy significantly reduced hs-CRP, TNF-α, and fasting blood glucose levels more effectively than standard treatment alone (P < 0.001).

Conclusions:

• HBO therapy offers significant benefits for diabetic patients with PSD, improving depressive symptoms and neurological dysfunction.
• HBO therapy demonstrates potential in reducing inflammation and improving glycemic control in this patient population.