Effects of photobiomodulation by infrared LED-therapy on improving cardiopulmonary functions and hematologic parameters in patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP).

BACKGROUND

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is associated with restrictive pulmonary dysfunction and ventilation-perfusion imbalance. This study evaluated the effects of photobiomodulation (PBM) on pulmonary function and hematological parameters in CAP patients.

METHODS

This randomized clinical trial, registered in the Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials (ReBEC: UTN U1111-1229-1296; June 5, 2019), included 30 patients with CAP randomly allocated to two groups: an LED group receiving 940-nm PBM plus conventional therapy and a control group receiving conventional therapy alone (antibiotics and physiotherapy). PBM was delivered using a vest containing 300 near-infrared LEDs applied to the anterior thoracic and abdominal regions for 15 min daily over 7 consecutive days. Data were anonymized prior to analysis, and statistical comparisons were performed using paired and unpaired two-tailed Student's t-tests.

RESULTS

The PBM adjunct to the conventional therapy improved the pulmonary recovery process and the clinical status, reduced respiratory symptoms, decreased hospital stay (9.3 vs 7.3 days) (p = 0.0015, g = -1.25), inducing an increase in peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) (88.3 to 98%) (p = 0.0001; g = 1.70), maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP) (-40 to -65.3 cmH2O) (p < 0.0001; g = -1.37), forced vital capacity (FVC) (62% to 80%) (p < 0.0021; g = 1.10), improvement in hematological data erythrocytes (3.51 to 5.54 mm3) (p = 0.0071; g = 1.69), hematocrit (32.60 to 39.14 %) (p = 0.0105; g = 0.66), and typical lymphocytes (40 to 31%) (p = 0.0120; g = -1.22), as well as, pulmonary auscultation (6.1 to 3.1 days) (p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

PBM treatment adjunctive to conventional therapy improved the pulmonary and clinical status of patients, reduced respiratory symptoms, and shortened the length of hospital stay.