The Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) challenged whether the claims that hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) could treat long COVID were misleading and could be substantiated.
MEA Comment
Dr Charles Shepherd, Honorary Medical Adviser to the ME Association says:
This is an important adjudication today from the Advertising Standards Authority – who have reviewed all the evidence from clinical trials that have assessed the possible use of HBO for the treatment of Long Covid.
A detailed review of clinical trial evidence is contained in the ASA adjudication notice.
As with ME/CFS, the results from these small and not very robust clinical trials fails to provide the necessary evidence on both safety and efficacy that is required to recommend HBO as a treatment for either Long Covid or ME/CFS in our current state of knowledge.
Medical Matters Information
Please see the Q and A on the use of HBO in ME/CFS below:
Dr Charles Shepherd,
Trustee and Hon. Medical Adviser to the ME Association.
Member of the 2018-2021 NICE Guideline Committee.
Member of the 2002 Independent Working Group on ME/CFS.
