Summary of COVID-19 NaCl studies
Studies
Meta Analysis
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RCT 379 mild COVID-19 cases showing significantly lower prevalence and severity of olfactory and gustatory dysfunction with budesonide nasal spray, chlorhexidine mouthwash, and saline nasal irrigation. The control group received no intervention, the saline group received saline nasal irrigation plus saline nasal spray and mouthwash, and the drug group received saline nasal irrigation plus budesonide nasal spray and chlorhexidine mouthwash. Saline nasal irrigation plus nasal spray and mouthwash were administered once and four times daily, respectively. Both treatment groups had significantly lower prevalence and severity olfactory and gustatory dysfunction. Prevalence was lower for the drug vs. saline group, without statistical significance.
Nov 2023, QJM: An Int. J. Medicine, https://academic.oup.com/qjmed/advance-article/doi/10.1093/qjmed/hcad262/7439598, https://c19p.org/jingnaclnacl
RCT 98 outpatients in Brazil, showing faster recovery from cough with inhaled hypertonic saline. Authors note that the effect on coughing may hypothetically be related to a hyperosmotic response influencing the function of different membrane channels and preventing virus entry into the cells; and that the hypertonic solution may increase mucociliary clearance and reduce the destructive inflammatory process in the airways with a decrease in respiratory symptoms.
Sep 2023, J. Clinical Medicine, https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/12/18/6075, https://c19p.org/tanninacl
RCT mechanically ventilated patients in Croatia, showing no significant difference in mortality with saline inhalation. ICU mortality results are from [repozitorij.mefst.unist.hr].
May 2022, Microorganisms, https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/10/6/1118, https://c19p.org/delicnaclnacl
RCT with 20 saline and 20 control low risk patients in India, showing faster recovery with saline gargling, but no significant difference in viral clearance.
Jul 2022, Indian J. Community Medicine, https://journals.lww.com/ijcm/Fulltext/2022/47020/Impact_of_Steam_Inhalation,_Saline_Gargling,_and.12.aspx, https://c19p.org/chalagerisanacl
1. Jing et al., Effective early strategy to prevent olfactory and gustatory dysfunction in COVID-19: a randomized controlled trial
260 patient NaCl early treatment RCT: 71% lower progression (p<0.0001) and 97% lower severe cases (p<0.0001).RCT 379 mild COVID-19 cases showing significantly lower prevalence and severity of olfactory and gustatory dysfunction with budesonide nasal spray, chlorhexidine mouthwash, and saline nasal irrigation. The control group received no intervention, the saline group received saline nasal irrigation plus saline nasal spray and mouthwash, and the drug group received saline nasal irrigation plus budesonide nasal spray and chlorhexidine mouthwash. Saline nasal irrigation plus nasal spray and mouthwash were administered once and four times daily, respectively. Both treatment groups had significantly lower prevalence and severity olfactory and gustatory dysfunction. Prevalence was lower for the drug vs. saline group, without statistical significance.
Nov 2023, QJM: An Int. J. Medicine, https://academic.oup.com/qjmed/advance-article/doi/10.1093/qjmed/hcad262/7439598, https://c19p.org/jingnaclnacl
2. Tanni et al., Efficacy of BREATHOX® Device Inhalation on Acute Symptoms Associated with COVID-19 (BREATH Study): A Randomized Pilot Clinical Trial
98 patient NaCl early treatment RCT: 75% lower hospitalization (p=0.34) and 10% worse recovery (p=0.7).RCT 98 outpatients in Brazil, showing faster recovery from cough with inhaled hypertonic saline. Authors note that the effect on coughing may hypothetically be related to a hyperosmotic response influencing the function of different membrane channels and preventing virus entry into the cells; and that the hypertonic solution may increase mucociliary clearance and reduce the destructive inflammatory process in the airways with a decrease in respiratory symptoms.
Sep 2023, J. Clinical Medicine, https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/12/18/6075, https://c19p.org/tanninacl
3. Delić et al., Effects of Different Inhalation Therapy on Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia in Ventilated COVID-19 Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial
94 patient NaCl ICU RCT: 26% lower mortality (p=0.09).RCT mechanically ventilated patients in Croatia, showing no significant difference in mortality with saline inhalation. ICU mortality results are from [repozitorij.mefst.unist.hr].
May 2022, Microorganisms, https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/10/6/1118, https://c19p.org/delicnaclnacl
4. Chalageri et al., Impact of steam inhalation, saline gargling, and povidone-iodine gargling on clinical outcome of COVID-19 patients in Bengaluru, Karnataka: A randomized control trial
40 patient NaCl early treatment RCT: 43% improved recovery (p=0.0004).RCT with 20 saline and 20 control low risk patients in India, showing faster recovery with saline gargling, but no significant difference in viral clearance.
Jul 2022, Indian J. Community Medicine, https://journals.lww.com/ijcm/Fulltext/2022/47020/Impact_of_Steam_Inhalation,_Saline_Gargling,_and.12.aspx, https://c19p.org/chalagerisanacl
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