Effects of sulphur thermal water inhalations in long-COVID syndrome: Spa-centred, double-blinded, randomised case–control pilot study

Serena Crucianelli; Alessia Mariano; Federica Valeriani; Nicholas Cocomello; Gianluca Gianfranceschi; Alessia Baseggio Conrado; Ferdinando Moretti; Anna Scotto d'Abusco; Gioacchino Mennuni; Antonio Fraioli; Maria Del Ben; Vincenzo Romano Spica; Mario Fontana

Clinical Medicine (Nov 2024)

Effects of sulphur thermal water inhalations in long-COVID syndrome: Spa-centred, double-blinded, randomised case–control pilot study

Serena Crucianelli,
Alessia Mariano,
Federica Valeriani,
Nicholas Cocomello,
Gianluca Gianfranceschi,
Alessia Baseggio Conrado,
Ferdinando Moretti,
Anna Scotto d'Abusco,
Gioacchino Mennuni,
Antonio Fraioli,
Maria Del Ben,
Vincenzo Romano Spica,
Mario Fontana

Affiliations

Serena Crucianelli: School of Thermal Medicine, Department of Clinical, Internal Medicine, Anesthesiological and Cardiovascular Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, Rome 00185, Italy
Alessia Mariano: Department of Biochemical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, Rome 00185, Italy
Federica Valeriani: Laboratory of Epidemiology and Biotechnologies, Department of Movement Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome Foro Italico, Piazza Lauro de Bosis 6, Rome 00135, Italy
Nicholas Cocomello: School of Thermal Medicine, Department of Clinical, Internal Medicine, Anesthesiological and Cardiovascular Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, Rome 00185, Italy
Gianluca Gianfranceschi: Laboratory of Epidemiology and Biotechnologies, Department of Movement Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome Foro Italico, Piazza Lauro de Bosis 6, Rome 00135, Italy
Alessia Baseggio Conrado: Department of Experimental Medicine and Rheumatology, William Harvey Research Institute, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 6BQ, UK
Ferdinando Moretti: School of Thermal Medicine, Department of Clinical, Internal Medicine, Anesthesiological and Cardiovascular Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, Rome 00185, Italy
Anna Scotto d'Abusco: Department of Biochemical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, Rome 00185, Italy
Gioacchino Mennuni: School of Thermal Medicine, Department of Clinical, Internal Medicine, Anesthesiological and Cardiovascular Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, Rome 00185, Italy
Antonio Fraioli: School of Thermal Medicine, Department of Clinical, Internal Medicine, Anesthesiological and Cardiovascular Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, Rome 00185, Italy
Maria Del Ben: Department of Clinical, Internal Medicine, Anesthesiological and Cardiovascular Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, Rome 00185, Italy
Vincenzo Romano Spica: Laboratory of Epidemiology and Biotechnologies, Department of Movement Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome Foro Italico, Piazza Lauro de Bosis 6, Rome 00135, Italy
Mario Fontana: School of Thermal Medicine, Department of Clinical, Internal Medicine, Anesthesiological and Cardiovascular Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, Rome 00185, Italy; Department of Biochemical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, Rome 00185, Italy; Corresponding author.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 24, no. 6
p. 100251

Abstract

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Background: The long-COVID syndrome is characterised by a plethora of symptoms. Given its social and economic impact, many studies have stressed the urgency of proposing innovative strategies other than hospital settings. In this double-blinded, randomised, case–control trial, we investigate the effects of sulphur thermal water inhalations, rich in H2S, compared to distilled water inhalations on symptoms, inflammatory markers and nasal microbiome in long-COVID patients. Methods: About 30 outpatients aged 18–75 with positive diagnosis for long-COVID were randomised in two groups undergoing 12 consecutive days of inhalations. The active group (STW) received sulphur thermal water inhalations whereas the placebo group received inhalations of sterile distilled non-pyrogenic water (SDW). Each participant was tested prior treatment at day 1 (T0), after the inhalations at day 14 (T1) and at 3 months follow-up (T2). At each time point, blood tests, nasal swabs for microbiome sampling, pulmonary functionality tests (PFTs) and pro-inflammatory marker measure were performed. Results: The scores obtained in the administered tests (6MWT, Borg score and SGRQ) at T0 showed a significant variation in the STW group, at T1 and T2. Serum cytokine levels and other inflammatory biomarkers reported a statistically significant decrease. Some specific parameters of PFTs showed ameliorations in the STW group only. Changes in the STW nasopharyngeal microbiota composition were noticed, especially from T0 to T2. Conclusions: Inhalations of sulphur thermal water exerted objective and subjective improvements on participants affected by long-COVID. Significant reduction of inflammatory markers, dyspnoea scores and quantitative and qualitative changes in the nasopharyngeal microbiome were also assessed.

Published in Clinical Medicine

ISSN: 1470-2118 (Print); 1473-4893 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Medicine
Website: https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/clinical-medicine

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