Research links HBOT to better sleep quality in aging, long COVID and PTSD

Advanced Hyperbaric Recovery Inc. is highlighting a retrospective study that found improved subjective sleep quality after 60 sessions of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in three patient groups. The findings add to interest in HBOT as researchers call for controlled trials to confirm who may benefit and why.

Why it matters: - Sleep problems often travel with aging, long COVID and PTSD, so even modest improvements could affect recovery and quality of life. - The study adds to growing interest in whether medical-grade hyperbaric oxygen therapy, or HBOT, may influence brain and vascular pathways tied to sleep. - The findings do not establish HBOT as a universal sleep treatment, but they strengthen the case for controlled clinical trials.

What happened: - Advanced Hyperbaric Recovery Inc. highlighted emerging clinical research on HBOT and sleep quality. - The retrospective longitudinal study was conducted at the Sagol Center for Hyperbaric Medicine and Research. - Researchers reviewed 395 patients who completed a 60-session HBOT protocol. - The protocol used 2.0 atmospheres absolute, 100% oxygen and 90-minute sessions five days a week. - The study measured subjective sleep quality with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index.

The details: - The study included 180 people treated for healthy aging, 92 with long COVID and 123 with PTSD. - Average baseline age was 57.9 years. - Women made up 31% of participants. - Total PSQI scores improved significantly across all three groups after HBOT, with p < 0.001. - Effect sizes ranged from Cohen’s d = 0.37 to 0.91. - Subjective sleep quality, sleep latency and sleep disturbances improved across all three groups. - Daytime dysfunction improved in the healthy aging and long COVID groups. - Daytime dysfunction did not improve significantly in the PTSD group. - Medication use did not change during the evaluation period. - Participants who started with disturbed sleep, defined as a PSQI score above 5, showed the broadest improvements. - Participants who already reported normal sleep showed smaller changes. - The researchers said HBOT may affect sleep through nervous system and vascular mechanisms. - The study discusses the hyperoxic-hypoxic paradox, in which controlled oxygen changes during HBOT may activate pathways involving hypoxia-inducible factors, vascular endothelial growth factor, angiogenesis, stem cell proliferation and mitochondrial biogenesis. - The researchers also pointed to possible reductions in neuroinflammation and changes tied to neuroplasticity.

Between the lines: - The result is best read as an association, not proof that HBOT caused the sleep gains. - Retrospective design and questionnaire-based sleep measures limit how far the findings can be generalized. - The study fits with earlier research that linked HBOT to better sleep duration, sleep latency, sleep efficiency and fewer nighttime awakenings in other populations. - Prior research referenced in the release included children with cerebral palsy, patients with Parkinson’s disease and patients with PTSD. - The broader takeaway is that HBOT may be acting on more than oxygen delivery alone.

What's next: - The researchers called for controlled clinical trials to identify which patients are most likely to benefit and to test the biological mechanisms behind the sleep changes. - Future studies will need to separate HBOT effects from baseline sleep differences, comorbid conditions and other treatment factors. - Advanced Hyperbaric Recovery Inc. said it will continue following research on HBOT and sleep, neurological function and recovery. - The company provides medical-grade HBOT in San Rafael, California, with physician oversight, certified hyperbaric technicians, hard-shell monoplace chambers, 100% medical-grade oxygen and ongoing patient monitoring. - More information is available in the full case study.