Hyperbaric oxygen therapy to treat lingering COVID-19 symptoms
Albert E Zant, Xavier A. Figueroa, Unaffiliated, Seattle, Washington U.S, Christopher P Paulson, James K. Wright
Abstract
Background: SARs-Cov-2 infections can produce prolonged illness and significant disability. Patients recovering from COVID-19 can have persistent symptoms leading to long-term morbidity. Methods: Six patients with long-lasting (> 30 days) COVID-19 symptoms were treated with hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2) therapy. All patients were assessed for symptoms using the ImPACT questionnaire, a muscle and joint pain scale, and a modified Borg dyspnea scale. Patients were assessed before, during and after HBO2 treatments. Results: All patients saw improvements in the measured symptoms to levels that were the same as pre-infection levels (five of six patients) or had significant improvement in symptoms (one patient). Conclusion: The results suggest that HBO2 helped to improve symptom scores, reduce the length of time of symptoms, and improved the quality of life. More detailed and randomized studies are needed to confirm the results in this report.