Epigenetic signatures and biomarkers in post COVID condition from the HOT-LoCO cohort to enable future tailored treatment with hyperbaric oxygen

Post covid condition (PCC) affects approximately 10% of people infected with SARS-CoV-2.

With half a billion confirmed COVID-19 cases globally, the magnitude of the expected Post COVID healthcare problem is enormous.

No treatment options to date have shown efficacy.We hypothesize that part of PCC is a chronic inflammation involving the endothelium started by COVID-19 and treatable by the anti-inflammatory effects of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2).

HBO2 delivered by inhalation of 100% oxygen in a hyperbaric chamber in daily treatments over several weeks, has several anti-inflammatory effects.

It is used for chronic inflammatory conditions such as osteomyelitis, radiation cystitis and acute flares of ulcerative colitis.

The purpose of this proposal is to investigate biomarkers, epigenetic signatures and response to HBO2 in a clinical trial that may explain mechanisms of the post COVID condition and enable future precision medicine.Aims: To investigate biomarkers, redox-balance and epigenetic profile of patients with PCCTo determine the efficacy of HBOT on endothelial dysfunction, objective physical performance, autonomic dysfunction, restorative sleep.To investigate if the effect of HBOT in PCC in a clinical trial correlates with age, gender and epigenetic signatures.

Preliminary results from our clinical trial on 31 acute covid-19 indicates effect from HBO but treatment may need individual tailoring. To date we have treated 20 PCC patients, aiming for a total of 80 participants.