Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for patients with fibromyalgia: a systematic review protocol

Abstract

IntroductionFibromyalgia (FM) is an unexplained chronic condition characterised by generalised pain, sleep disturbances, autonomic disturbances, anxiety, fatigue and cognitive impairment. FM is a prevalent chronic disease worldwide that imposes a significant burden on individuals and society. Emerging evidence suggests that environmental interventions, such as exposure to hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), can relieve pain and improve the quality of life in patients with FM. This study will systematically and comprehensively assess the effectiveness and safety of HBOT in patients with FM and provide evidence to support its implementation. We hope that the final review will be helpful in supporting the decision-making processes related to treatment programmes.Methods and analysisThis protocol is reported in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic review and Meta-Analysis Protocols guidelines. Ten key databases, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, EMBASE (Excerpt Medica Database), PsycINFO, CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature), PEDro, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, WANFANG and VIP (Chinese Scientific Journal Database), will be searched from inception through December 2022 to identify relevant randomised controlled trials examining the effectiveness of HBOT in patients with FM published in English or Chinese. Two reviewers will independently complete the study screening, selection, and data extraction and assess the risk of bias in the included studies using the 0–10 PEDro Scale. Narrative or quantitative syntheses will be performed and a systematic review and meta-analysis will be performed using Review Manager V.5.3 statistical software.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval was not required for this protocol. The results of the final review will be disseminated in a peer-­reviewed journal.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42022363672

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“…Beyond these, hyperbaric medicine can be synergistically applied with traditional therapeutic methods, offering excellent outcomes in several other conditions, including gas gangrene, ulcer healing, spinal cord injuries, and osteomyelitis [20,21]. Concurrently, although still under investigation, hyperbaric oxygen therapy shows promising potential for treating various medical disorders, such as inflammatory bowel disease, fractures with delayed healing, and severe retinal artery occlusion [22][23][24][25][26][27]. However, the adverse effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy do exist and are the subject of ongoing research [28].…”