Thermotherapy, or heat therapy includes hydrothermotherapy, hydrotherapy, and diathermy, methods for increasing internal body temperature which may have benefits similar to natural fever, while providing potential advantages regarding localization, precision, and lower metabolic cost.
Significantly lower risk is seen for recovery. 3 studies from 3 independent teams in 2 countries show significant benefit.
Meta analysis using the most serious outcome reported shows 56% [9‑78%] lower risk. Results are similar for Randomized Controlled Trials and higher quality studies.
Currently there is limited data, with only 217 patients and only 20 control events for the most serious outcome in trials to date.
No treatment is 100% effective. Protocols combine safe and effective options with individual risk/benefit analysis and monitoring. Thermotherapy currently has no early treatment studies. Thermotherapy methods may have additional mechanisms of action beyond increased internal body temperatures. Studies of ventilated patients are excluded1. All data and sources to reproduce this analysis are in the appendix.
Covid Analysis et al., Dec 2024, preprint, 1 author.
