From the Guidelines
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is not a recommended treatment for long Covid due to the lack of strong evidence supporting its effectiveness. The current evidence does not provide sufficient support for the use of HBOT as a standard treatment for long Covid, and major medical organizations do not widely recommend it for this indication 1. Some studies have suggested that HBOT might help improve fatigue, cognitive function, and quality of life in some long Covid patients, but these findings are based on limited and low-quality evidence. Key points to consider when evaluating HBOT for long Covid include:
- Theoretical benefits of HBOT, such as increased oxygen delivery to tissues, reduced inflammation, and oxidative stress, and promotion of healing in damaged tissues
- Lack of standardized HBOT protocols for long Covid, with varying session durations, pressures, and frequencies
- Potential expenses and limited insurance coverage for HBOT sessions, which can range from $250-500 per session
- Need for larger, well-designed clinical trials to establish the efficacy and safety of HBOT for long Covid symptoms. Given the uncertainty and limited evidence, patients with long Covid should prioritize established treatments and management strategies, such as pacing, symptom-specific pharmacological options, and non-pharmacological interventions, as recommended by the ME/CFS community and supported by recent research 1.
From the Research
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Long Covid
- Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has been studied as a potential treatment for long Covid, with several studies suggesting its effectiveness in improving symptoms such as fatigue, cognitive impairment, and cardiopulmonary function 2, 3, 4, 5.
- A systematic review of 10 clinical studies found that HBOT can improve quality of life, fatigue, cognition, neuropsychiatric symptoms, and cardiopulmonary function in patients with long Covid 2.
- A case report of a previously healthy individual with long Covid syndrome found significant improvements in brain perfusion, cognitive function, and physical capacity after treatment with HBOT 4.
- A clinical pilot study of 70 patients with long Covid syndrome found statistically significant improvements in physical functioning, energy, emotional well-being, and social functioning after HBOT treatment 5.
- A clinical review of published studies on HBOT for long Covid found that it can effectively address the pathophysiology of the condition, providing significant improvement in symptoms and quality of life 6.
Benefits of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
- Improved fatigue and energy levels 3, 5
- Enhanced cognitive function, including attention, executive function, and memory 3, 4
- Improved cardiopulmonary function, including increased maximum rate of oxygen consumption and forced vital capacity 4, 5
- Improved quality of life and reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression 2, 5, 6
Limitations and Future Directions
- Further rigorous large-scale randomized controlled trials are needed to establish precise indications, protocols, and post-treatment evaluations for HBOT in long Covid 2, 4, 6.
- More research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms by which HBOT improves symptoms in long Covid and to determine the optimal treatment protocols 3, 5.