Rossignol
Limited evidence that ‘mild’ hyperbaric therapy benefits autistic spectrum disorder
| Clinical bottom line: Oxygen at the equivalent of 31% at sea level did not result in higher scores on a clinical assessment scale in autism spectrum disorder. |
Citation/s:Rossignol, D.A. et al. Hyperbaric treatment for children with autism: a multicenter, randomised, double blind, controlled trial. BMC Paediatrics 2009;9:21
Three-part Clinical Question: In children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder, does the administration of mild hyperbaric oxygen improve functional ability?Search Terms: autism; autistic spectrum disorder.
The Study:Double-blind concealed randomised controlled trial with intention-to-treat. The Study Patients: Children aged 2 to 7 with Autistic Disorder meeting DSM-IV criteria Control group (N = 29; 26 analysed): Sham HBOT with 60 mins 21% 02 at 1.03ATA in monoplace chamber. Two treatments per day for 40 sessions total HBOT group (N = 33; 30 analysed): 0.24% 02 at 1.3 ATA on the same schedule.
The Evidence:
| Outcome | Time to Outcome | Control | HBOT | Relative risk reduction | Absolute risk reduction | NNT |
| Clinical global index (physician) less than ‘much improvement’ | 4 weeks | 0.83 | 0.66 | 23% | 0.19 | 5 |
| ^ | 95% CI: | -3% to 49% | -0.02 to 0.41 | NNT 2 to INF; NNH 45 to INF | ||
| Clinical global index (parental) less than ‘much improvement’ | 4 weeks | 0.76 | 0.64 | 16% | 0.12 | 8 |
| ^ | 95% CI: | -14% to 46% | -0.10 to 0.35 | NNT 3 to INF; NNH 10 to INF |
| Non-Event Outcomes | Time to outcome | Control group | HBOT group | P-value |
| Total Autism Behaviour Checklist score | 4 weeks | 45.5 | 46.4 | 0.41 |
| Total Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist score | 4 weeks | 70.1 | 65.9 | 0.20 |
Comments: 1. There was improvement in both treatment and control groups suggesting a strong placebo or Hawthorne effect. 2. Main outcome reported in the paper was improvement in scores rather than absolute difference after therapy. 3. One centre lost 30% of ATEC scores due to an administrative error. 4.. Not a test of HBOT as an Fi02 of 0.24 at 1.3 ATA is equivalent to 31% oxygen at sea level. 5.No compensation of these low pressures for altitude, so that patients at one of the participating centres were exposed to little more than 1ATA in the active treatment arm.
Appraised by: Mark Fisher Dept of Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine, Prince Of Wales Hospital, Randwick, SYDNEY Australia; Friday, 26 March 2010Email: [| mark.fisher@sesiahs.health.gov.nsw.au] Kill or Update By: June 2020
