A systematic review carried out by Sylvain Boet et al. indicated that hyperbaric oxygen treatment (HBOT) is safe and appears to be a promising intervention for optimizing therapy and outcomes in hypoxaemic SARS-CoV-2 people. Investigators aimed to determine the potential efficacy and safety of HBOT to treat COVID-19 pneumonia.

Databases like Google Scholar, Scopus, Medline, and Embase were extensively searched without any language restrictions. With the aid of an internet search engine and targeted website and database searches, the grey literature was searched.

The reference lists of incorporated studies were explored. Independent reviewers evaluated studies for eligibility and extracted data. The disagreements were resolved by consensus or a third reviewer. With the aid of the Newcastle Ottawa Scale, an assessment of the risk of bias was done. The data were summarized descriptively.

Overall, 6 publications (1 cohort study, 5 case reports/series) fulfilled the inclusion criteria with 37 hypoxaemic SARS-CoV-2 people treated with HBOT. The requirement for intubation and mechanical ventilation and in-hospital survival were evaluated for 26 (out of 37) people across 3 studies. Out of 26 people, mechanical ventilation and intubation were not needed for 24 people, and 23 people survived.

There were no severe adverse events of HBOT in COVID-19 people. No randomized clinical trials have been published. Thus, limited and weak evidence from non-randomized studies including 1 propensity-matched cohort study indicates that HBOT can safely optimize treatment and outcomes in hypoxaemic COVID-19 people.