Community-delivered hyperbaric oxygen therapy for people affected by long COVID: a pilot study

Area of Science:

• Pulmonology and Respiratory Medicine
• Neurology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Long COVID, characterized by persistent symptoms post-acute COVID-19, significantly impacts quality of life.
• Current treatment options for long COVID are limited, necessitating exploration of novel therapeutic approaches.
• Emerging research suggests hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) may alleviate several long COVID symptoms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of community-based hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) on key long COVID symptoms.
• To explore patient experiences and perceived benefits of HBOT for long COVID.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods pilot study design was employed.
• Participants underwent 4 weeks of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) in a community setting.
• Data collection included quantitative symptom assessment and qualitative participant feedback.

Main Results:

• Significant improvements were observed in fatigue, breathlessness, and quality of life among participants completing HBOT.
• Patient experiences with HBOT were generally positive, with reported improvements in major long COVID symptoms.
• Attendance challenges were noted due to the persistent nature of long COVID symptoms.

Conclusions:

• Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) shows potential as a short-term intervention for improving key long COVID symptoms.
• Further rigorous, controlled studies are warranted to validate these preliminary findings and establish HBOT efficacy.
• Community-based HBOT delivery is feasible but requires consideration of patient accessibility challenges.