Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy: A Potential Treatment for Post-COVID Conditions

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has been around for nearly a century, providing valuable treatment for various conditions. However, despite its long history, clinical studies providing modern evidence of its effectiveness, particularly regarding dosage, are scarce. This lack of data has led to a knowledge gap regarding the therapy's full potential and optimal application.

Investigating Dosage in Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

Anders Kjellberg, a deputy chief physician and head of the Hyperbaric Unit at Karolinska University Hospital and researcher, has been working to fill this knowledge gap. Before the COVID-19 pandemic struck, Kjellberg conducted dose trials to better understand the therapy's effects. When the pandemic hit, he saw an opportunity to test the treatment on 17 COVID-19 patients. The results were encouraging, with patients showing improved vital parameters and experiencing early discharges from the hospital.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Post-COVID Conditions

Kjellberg's research indicates that HBOT may expose immune cells to stress, causing older cells to die off and rejuvenating the population of immune cells. This result could explain the positive outcomes observed in COVID-19 patients. Encouraged by these results, Kjellberg is now conducting a larger study involving 80 post-COVID patients to further investigate the treatment's benefits. The results of this study are eagerly awaited and are expected later in the year.

Long-Term Effects of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

While Kjellberg's work focuses on immediate post-COVID conditions, other research has explored the long-term effects of HBOT on long COVID syndrome. A study involving 31 patients reported significant improvements in cognitive, psychiatric, fatigue, sleep, and pain symptoms among long COVID patients who underwent HBOT. Impressively, these clinical improvements were persistent even one year after the last HBOT session, indicating the therapy's potential for long-lasting benefits.

Addressing the Pathophysiology of Long COVID

An international study conducted by prestigious institutions such as Rey Juan Carlos University, Spain, Medical University of Gdansk, Poland, CNR, Italy, and University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, UK, found that HBOT effectively addresses the pathophysiology of long COVID. The condition affects an estimated 50 million individuals worldwide, and there are currently no effective treatment options available. The study revealed that HBOT provided significant improvement in patients with long COVID, suggesting its potential as a viable treatment option.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy as an Effective Treatment for Long COVID Symptoms

Further evidence of HBOT's effectiveness in treating long COVID symptoms comes from a longitudinal study conducted by Dr. Shai Efrati and Dr. Amir Hadanny. Their unique protocol involved repeated fluctuations in pressure and oxygen concentrations, which activated metabolic pathways vital for regeneration. The results revealed improvements in the quality of life, sleep, psychiatric, and pain symptoms in long COVID patients one year after treatment with HBOT.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy: A Future in Post-COVID Treatment?

As researchers like Anders Kjellberg continue to investigate the potential benefits of HBOT for post-COVID conditions, the future looks hopeful. The therapy, which gives patients 100 percent oxygen at a pressure corresponding to 10-20 meters below sea level, may offer a way to rejuvenate immune cells and improve vital parameters such as pulse, respiratory rate, and oxygenation. While further research is needed, the initial results suggest that HBOT could become a key tool in treating post-COVID conditions and improving patients' quality of life.