RecruitingNAINTERVENTIONAL

Improving Post COVID-19 Syndrome With Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatments

Many people who have recovered from COVID-19 still experience long-lasting symptoms, a condition often called 'Long COVID' or 'Post-COVID Syndrome.' One common symptom is feeling extremely tired all the time, known as chronic fatigue. This small study is exploring a treatment called hyperbaric oxygen therapy. This involves breathing pure oxygen in a special high-pressure chamber. While this treatment has shown some promise for people with Long COVID and other types of fatigue, it can be expensive and time-consuming. This study isn't about proving it's definitely a cure, but rather a first step to see if it's practical to conduct a larger study in the future. The goal is to understand if this therapy could help improve Long COVID symptoms, like tiredness.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Phase

Sponsor

Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

Enrolment target

Start

02 Jan 2024

Estimated completion

01 May 2027

Post COVID-19 Condition Post-COVID-19 Syndrome Post-COVID Syndrome COVID-19 Fatigue Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic

What is this study about?

Many individuals who have had COVID-19 continue to experience health problems long after they've recovered from the initial illness. This is commonly known as 'Long COVID' or 'Post-COVID Syndrome.' It can include a range of symptoms, with feeling extremely tired (chronic fatigue), having trouble concentrating, and muscle aches being particularly common. These ongoing symptoms can really affect a person's daily life and overall well-being.

Currently, there aren't many treatments that effectively tackle all the symptoms of Long COVID. This study is looking into a different approach called hyperbaric oxygen therapy. This treatment involves spending time in a special chamber where you breathe in pure oxygen at a higher pressure than normal air. This increased oxygen level might help reduce inflammation and promote healing in the body. It's been suggested as a potential way to help people with Long COVID symptoms, including tiredness.

Because hyperbaric oxygen therapy can take a lot of time and resources, this particular study is a small, initial step. It's not designed to definitively prove whether the treatment works for everyone. Instead, it's a 'pilot study' to find out if it's practical and possible to run a much larger research study down the line. The main goal is to see if people stick with the treatment and if there are any early signs that it might help improve symptoms of Long COVID, like feeling less tired. This will help researchers decide if it's worth investing in a bigger trial.

Key takeaways

Exploring oxygen therapy for Long COVID, especially tiredness.
This is a small study to see if a larger study is possible in the future.
You'll spend time in a special oxygen chamber.
Participation involves regular check-ups over a year.
You must have an official Long COVID diagnosis and ongoing fatigue.
You can stop participating at any time.

Who may be eligible?

To be considered for this study, you need to be at least 18 years old and have received an official diagnosis of Long COVID from a healthcare professional. You must have had COVID-19 at least three months ago, and your symptoms, especially chronic fatigue (long-lasting tiredness), must still be present for more than 12 weeks. You also need to have either difficulty thinking or problem-solving (sometimes called 'brain fog') or be experiencing stress or anxiety.

There are also some reasons why you might not be able to join. For example, if you have certain medical conditions that make hyperbaric oxygen treatment unsafe, such as a collapsed lung or unstable heart disease, you wouldn't be able to participate. People who had cognitive difficulties before getting COVID, or who have a history of serious head injury, are also not eligible. You also need to be able to attend all the follow-up appointments, so if you plan to move away or have unstable living arrangements, this study might not be suitable. Women who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant also cannot join.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you 18 years old or older?
Have you been officially diagnosed with Long COVID by a doctor?
Were you diagnosed with COVID-19 at least three months ago?
Do you still have symptoms, including long-lasting tiredness, for more than 12 weeks?
Do you also experience 'brain fog' or stress/anxiety?
Are you able to attend appointments regularly for a year?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you join this study, you'll be assigned by chance to one of two groups. One group will start the special oxygen therapy right away, and the other group will start it after a 60-day waiting period. Both groups will eventually receive the treatment. The oxygen therapy involves going into a special chamber where you breathe pure oxygen.

You'll be followed for a full year from when your treatment begins. This will involve several check-ups. You'll have assessments when you first join the study, and then again when you start treatment (if you're in the group that waits). After starting treatment, you'll have another assessment four weeks later, and then regular checks every two months for the rest of the year. You'll also be asked to fill out a questionnaire about how satisfied you are with the treatment after your last session.

Potential risks and benefits

The main potential benefit of taking part in this study is that the hyperbaric oxygen therapy might help improve your Long COVID symptoms, particularly your chronic fatigue. However, because this is an early-stage study, it's not guaranteed that you will experience benefit, and the effects could vary. Potential risks of hyperbaric oxygen therapy can include feelings of pressure in your ears or sinuses, temporary changes in vision, and on rare occasions, more serious issues like lung problems. The study team will carefully monitor you for these. Remember, you have the right to withdraw from the study at any time, for any reason, without it affecting your medical care.

Locations (1)

Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
Verified postcode
Toronto, Canada· Recruiting

Common questions

What is Long COVID?

Long COVID is when you have symptoms from a COVID-19 infection that last for weeks, months, or even longer after your initial illness.

What is hyperbaric oxygen therapy?

It's a treatment where you breathe pure oxygen inside a special chamber that's at a higher pressure than normal air.

Will I definitely get better if I join this study?

This is an early study, so we don't know for sure if it will help. It's designed to see if a bigger study is worthwhile.

How long will I be in the study?

You will be followed for a full year from when you start the oxygen treatment.

Can I leave the study if I change my mind?

Yes, you can leave the study at any point without it affecting your usual medical care.

How to find out more

Fahad Alam, MD

fahad.alam@sunnybrook.ca 416-480-4864 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.