Immediate and Long-Term Effects of Hyperbaric Oxygenation in Patients with Long COVID-19 Syndrome Using SF-36 Survey and VAS Score: A Clinical Pilot Study.
Joerg LindenmannChristian PorubskyLucija OkresaHuberta KlemenIurii MykoliukAndrej RojAmir KoutpEveline KinkFlorian IbererGabor KovacsRobert KrauseJosef SmolleFreyja-Maria Smolle-JuettnerPublished in: Journal of clinical medicine (2023)
(1) Background: Long COVID syndrome (LCS) is a heterogeneous long-standing condition following COVID-19 infection. Treatment options are limited to symptomatic measures, and no specific medication has been established. Hyperbaric oxygenation (HBO) has been found to have a positive impact on the treatment of COVID-19 infection. This study evaluates both the feasibility and outcome of supportive HBO in patients with LCS. (2) Methods: Within 17 months, 70 patients with proven LCS were prospectively included. Each patient underwent a cycle of 10 subsequent HBO treatment sessions administered for 75 min at 2.2 atmospheres. Evaluation of the patients was performed before the first and after the last HBO session and 3 months afterwards. Statistical evaluation was based on an intention-to-treat analysis using Fisher's exact test and Student's t -test for paired samples. (3) Results: In total, 59 patients (33 females, 26 males; mean age: 43.9 years; range: 23-74 years; median: 45.0) were evaluable. After HBO, a statistically significant improvement of physical functioning ( p < 0.001), physical role ( p = 0.01), energy ( p < 0.001), emotional well-being ( p < 0.001), social functioning ( p < 0.001), pain ( p = 0.01) and reduced limitation of activities ( p < 0.001) was confirmed. (4) Conclusions: Physical functioning and both the physical and emotional role improved significantly and sustainably, suggesting HBO as a promising supportive therapeutic tool for the treatment of LCS.
Keyphrases
- end stage renal disease
- mental health
- physical activity
- coronavirus disease
- ejection fraction
- sars cov
- chronic kidney disease
- case report
- healthcare
- peritoneal dialysis
- prognostic factors
- chronic pain
- pain management
- patient reported outcomes
- respiratory syndrome coronavirus
- cross sectional
- adverse drug
- medical students