Outcome

The study found that hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) significantly improved the health-related quality of life in patients with diabetes and chronic foot ulcers. Over a one-year follow-up patients who received HBOT showed notable improvements in mental health social functioning and role limitations due to physical and emotional health especially those who healed their ulcers.

Introduction

Diabetic foot ulcers are a severe and common complication of diabetes often leading to reduced mobility and significantly decreased quality of life. This study investigates the impact of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) on the health-related quality of life in patients with diabetes suffering from chronic foot ulcers. While HBOT is recognized for its effectiveness in aiding ulcer healing the primary focus of this research is to evaluate whether HBOT can also contribute to overall well-being in these patients. In a prospective randomized placebo-controlled double-blinded study spanning one year 75 patients were divided into two groups: one receiving HBOT and the other receiving placebo treatment with hyperbaric air. The results indicated substantial improvements in mental health social functioning and role limitations due to physical and emotional health among patients who underwent HBOT particularly those whose ulcers healed. In contrast the placebo group showed no significant overall health-related quality of life improvements. These findings suggest that HBOT not only promotes physical healing but also offers considerable benefits in enhancing the quality of life for diabetic patients with chronic foot ulcers making it a valuable adjunctive treatment for managing diabetes-related complications.

Results

The study found that hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) significantly improved the health-related quality of life in patients with diabetes and chronic foot ulcers. In this prospective randomized placebo-controlled double-blinded study involving 75 patients 38 received HBOT and 37 received a placebo treatment with hyperbaric air over a one-year follow-up period.

Patients who received HBOT showed marked improvements in multiple areas of their health-related quality of life. Specifically there was a significant enhancement in the mental health summary score and in two out of the eight domains of the SF-36 health survey from baseline to the end of the study period. Contrarily the placebo group exhibited no significant gains in overall health-related quality of life metrics.

A crucial observation was made when comparing patients who healed their ulcers (healers) to those who did not (non-healers). The healers experienced substantial enhancements not only in the mental health summary score but also in social functioning and role limitations attributable to both physical and emotional health. Non-healers did not show any improvements in any SF-36 domains.

In summary the data underscores that HBOT can significantly enhance the long-term health-related quality of life in patients with chronic diabetic foot ulcers predominantly through improved ulcer healing.

Conclusion

In conclusion this study provides compelling evidence that hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) significantly enhances the health-related quality of life for diabetic patients with chronic foot ulcers. The notable improvements in mental health social functioning and role limitations due to physical and emotional health especially among those who healed their ulcers underscore HBOT’s potential as a holistic adjunctive treatment. These findings suggest that the benefits of HBOT extend far beyond the physical healing of ulcers offering meaningful improvements in overall well-being and quality of life. Future research should aim to optimize treatment protocols and further explore the long-term benefits of HBOT in broader patient populations potentially establishing it as a standard component in the management of diabetes-related complications.