The Impact of Intermittent Hypoxia-Hyperoxia Therapy on Metabolism and Respiratory System in Obese Patients as Part of Comprehensive Medical Rehabilitation.

Introduction Obesity is a complex condition characterized by excessive accumulation of body fat, which can have multiple causes, including genetic factors, inadequate diet, lack of physical exercise, and socioeconomic factors. Obesity can cause significant respiratory changes, so obese patients present pulmonary complications more frequently than individuals with normal weight. Improving respiratory function is an important aspect of obesity management, as it can reduce the risk of pulmonary complications and improve patients' quality of life. Material and method We conducted a randomized controlled, single-center study that included 70 obese patients, aiming to evaluate the effectiveness of intermittent hypoxia-hyperoxia therapy (IHHT) on metabolic and respiratory effects. Patients were randomly allocated into two equivalent groups: an intervention group, consisting of 35 patients who received IHHT, and a control group, consisting of 35 patients who did not receive this therapy. Results Patients in the intervention group showed a significant increase in exercise tolerance (p < 0.001), improvement in renal function parameters (p = 0.047 for uric acid; p = 0.006 for creatinine), and liver function (p = 0.001 AST; p = 0.030 ALT), compared to the control group. An improvement in the Tiffeneau index was also observed in the intervention group (p < 0.001), indicating an improvement in respiratory function and lung capacity. Conclusions The approach to obesity requires a holistic perspective that takes into account the physical, psychological, and social aspects of this condition. IHHT represents an integrative therapeutic approach that addresses both the metabolic and respiratory aspects of obesity and metabolic syndrome, offering promising prospects for improving patients' health and quality of life. The study results suggest that IHHT may be effective in improving physical performance, renal and hepatic function, as well as respiratory function, with the potential to provide significant benefits in the management and treatment of obese and/or metabolic syndrome patients.
Competing Interests: Human subjects: Consent was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Balneal and Rehabilitation Sanatorium Ethics Committee of Techirghiol issued approval 6403/28.04.2023. Animal subjects: All authors have confirmed that this study did not involve animal subjects or tissue. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work.
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