A brand new lengthy COVID research will doubtless present hope for the tens of millions of individuals affected by the debilitating situation, as researchers on Tuesday revealed that hyperbaric oxygen remedy is the important thing to an extended COVID remedy.
The research included 73 lengthy haulers with post-COVID-19 cognitive signs, similar to mind fog, lack of ability to pay attention, forgetfulness and problem recalling desired phrases or ideas. These signs had persevered for greater than three months following a confirmed virus an infection — a crippling situation that impacts as much as 30% of COVID sufferers.
Participants within the research had been divided into two teams: 37 sufferers obtained hyperbaric oxygen remedy remedy and 36 had been designated into the sham-controlled group (placebo classes obtained regular air).
Those who obtained the hyperbaric oxygen had 40 every day remedy classes — 5 classes per week inside a two-month interval. The sufferers entered a hyperbaric oxygen chamber, and breathed 100% oxygen by masks at twice the atmospheric stress at sea stage, for 90 minutes with oxygen fluctuations.
According to the research’s outcomes, sufferers handled by hyperbaric oxygen had “significant improvement in their global cognitive function and more cognitive improvement related to their specific damaged brain regions responsible for attention and executive function.” Patients additionally noticed important enchancment of their power, sleep, psychiatric signs and extra.
Participants who obtained solely the placebo remedy didn’t expertise important enchancment of their persistent lengthy COVID signs.
The research was carried out by the Sagol Center for Hyperbaric Medicine and Research at Shamir Medical Center and Tel Aviv University.
“The study revealed that HBOT (hyperbaric oxygen therapy) can induce structural and functional repair of the damaged regions of the brain and improve the cognitive, behavioral and emotional function of the unfortunate patients suffering from post-COVID-19 conditions,” mentioned Shai Efrati, the analysis group chief and director of the Sagol Center and chair of Aviv Scientific’s Medical Advisory Board.
Earlier this yr, Efrati and others revealed a single case report about hyperbaric oxygen remedy for an extended hauler. In the article, the scientists reported how a beforehand wholesome, athletic 55-year-old man who suffered from lengthy COVID was handled efficiently with hyperbaric oxygen remedy.
When it got here to the person’s bodily enchancment, there was a 34% improve in his most fee of oxygen consumed throughout train and a 44% enchancment in compelled important capability.
“We report the first case of successfully treated long COVID symptoms with hyperbaric oxygen therapy with improvements in cognition and cardiopulmonary function,” the scientists wrote earlier this yr. “The beneficial effects of hyperbaric oxygen shed additional light on the pathophysiology of long COVID. As this is a single case report, further prospective randomized control studies are needed.”
President Biden just lately introduced the launch of a nationwide analysis motion plan on lengthy COVID, which referred to as on the Department of Health and Human Services to broaden current analysis on the situation and coordinate extra take care of sufferers.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”