NCT05760092

The Use of Photobiomodulation in the Treatment of Oral Complaints of Long COVID-19.A Randomized Controlled Trial.

The Use of Photobiomodulation in the Treatment of Oral Complaints of Long COVID-19. A Randomized Controlled Trial.

• Status: Completed
• Phase: Phase 2
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 10 (actual)
• Sponsor: University of Nove de Julho · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: —
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a newly emerging zoonotic agent that emerged in December 2019 in China (2019-nCoV) as a Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV -2). Long COVID-19, or Post-Covid Syndrome or Long-term COVID-19, is a post-viral syndrome that persists after the acute infection has resolved. The most frequent symptoms of Lonf-term COVID are fatigue and dyspnea. But two classes of symptoms have been received scientific attention: the musculoskeletal pain and oral complaints related to Long COVID, mainly xerostomia and burning mouth. Photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy is often used for oral diseases and presents itself as a non-invasive, low-cost, safe therapy that has benefits in relation to the quality of life of patients with xerostomia. This study aims to investigate the clinical effectiveness of the use of a Photobiomodulation protocol in the treatment xerostomia and oral complaints related to Long-Covid. This will be a single-center, randomized, controlled, blinded clinical trial that will involve patients with Long COVID in follow-up at the Medical and Multiprofessional outpatient clinic of University Nove de Julho (UNINOVE) which remained hospitalized with COVID-19 at Lydia Storópoli Universitarian Hospital during the year 2022 and who were discharged from the inpatient treatment from January to December 2022. All those patients presenting xerostomia, burning mouth or oral complaints related to Long Covid will be randomized into 2 groups: PBM Group (standard rehabilitation treatment for Long COVID and xerostomia + PBM therapy) or PBM placebo group (standard rehabilitation treatment for Long COVID and xerostomia + placebo PBM therapy). PBM consists of the application of Red LED on the 3 pairs of major salivary glands (parotid, submandibular and sublingual) extraorally, transcutaneously, 3 J/cm2, for 36 seconds, twice a week for 06 weeks. Functional and quality of life evaluations will be perform pre and post therapy period.

Detailed description

Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a newly emerging zoonotic agent that emerged in December 2019 in China (2019-nCoV) and which results in Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV -2) The scientific literature has made progress in the characterization of the new coronavirus and works extensively on therapies and vaccines against the virus. However, it is now known that SARS-CoV-2 is more than just an acute respiratory syndrome. Long-term COVID-19, or Post-Covid Syndrome or Long-term COVID-19, is a post-viral syndrome that was first reported online in groups of COVID-19 survivors discussing their symptoms after the acute infection has resolved. It begins to gain recognition in the scientific and medical communities. Although a universally accepted definition does not yet exist, reviews have identified that the most frequent symptoms of Lonf-term COVID are fatigue and dyspnea. But two classes of symptoms have been received scientific attention: the musculoskeletal pain and xerostomia. Xerostomia is defined as a subjective sensation of dry mouth described by patients and which is commonly related to hyposalivation (decreased salivary flow rate). The pathophysiology and clinical evolution of xerostomia in COVID-19 still lacks studies, but there are reports of 2 to 30% of patients presenting the complaint of dry mouth sensation even after the resolution of acute COVID. Regular physical therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy have been used and encouraged in the follow-up of patients with post- COVID, demonstrating that even today these practices seem to be more promising than pharmacological treatment. In parallel, studies demonstrate that Photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy is often used for oral diseases and presents itself as a non-invasive, low-cost, safe therapy that has benefits in relation to the quality of life of these patients. PBM refers to a series of therapies in which non-ionizing light beams, including lasers, LEDs and broadband light in the visible and infrared spectra, are used to interact with biological tissues for different purposes. In this sense, this study aims to investigate the clinical effectiveness of the use of a Photobiomodulation protocol in the treatment xerostomia related to Long-Covid. This will be a single-center, randomized, controlled, blind clinical trial that will involve patients with Long-COVID in follow-up at the Medical and Multiprofessional outpatient clinic of University Nove de Julho (UNINOVE). An analysis will be carried out of all medical records of patients who remained hospitalized with COVID-19 at Lydia Storópoli Universitary Hospital during the year 2022 and who were discharged from the inpatient treatment from January to December 2022, for a survey of telephone contact and epidemiological data collection by medical records. All those patients who answer the questions referring to one or more symptoms related to the oral or nasal cavity, which have arisen after the onset of acute COVID infection, will be invited to participate in the study by making a first face-to-face evaluation at the University to confirm the diagnostic criteria of xerostomia, the diagnosis of Long COVID and evaluation of inclusion criteria in the study (adults with COVID-19 with complaints of xerostomia diagnosed more than 4 weeks after the acute infection and persisting for at least 02 months). Pre- and post-treatment evaluations are composed by the Brazilian Version of the SF 36 Quality of Life Scale, salivary sialometry and salivary pH, Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14), Abbreviated Xerostomia Inventory (SXI), Brazilian version of the Functional Independence Measure (FIM), Post -Covid-19 Functional Status Scale and WHO Disability Assessment Scale (WHODAS 2.0) All patients included will be randomized into 2 groups: PBM Group (standard rehabilitation treatment for Long COVID and xerostomia + PBM therapy) or PBM placebo group (standard rehabilitation treatment for Long COVID and xerostomia + placebo PBM therapy). PBM consists of the application of Red LED on the 3 pairs of major salivary glands (parotid, submandibular and sublingual) extraorally, transcutaneously, 3 J/cm2, for 36 seconds, twice a week for 06 weeks. The results will be sent for statistical analysis.

Conditions

• Xerostomia
• COVID-19
• Long COVID
• Persistent COVID-19

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
COMBINATION_PRODUCT	Institutional standard treatment for xerostomia and Long Covid	(Medical follow-up at the general outpatient clinic for prescription and control of medications, underlying diseases, clinical status and routine short, medium and long-term care follow-up, standard guidelines for the use of aerobic physical activity in those who do not have contraindications, stretching exercises, ergonomics, home adaptation to maximize functionality and energy savings, emotional cognitive support psychotherapy, socio-educational measures, sleep hygiene, Nutritional follow-up and monitoring, dentistry follow-up at the University's odontological team, guidance on proper oral hygiene, use of low-sugar diets, daily topical use of fluoride and antimicrobial mouthwash to prevent dental caries, oral hydration, guidance on avoiding cigarette use or intake of caffeine-containing beverages . When necessary, measures such as oral lubricants, artificial saliva, measures to prevent aspirations, as well as the careful use of liquids during meals, can be instituted ) +
RADIATION	Photobiomodulation Therapy	Application of Red LED in the 3 pairs of major salivary glands (parotid, submandibular and sublingual) extraorally, transcutaneously, for 36 seconds, twice a week for 06 weeks.
RADIATION	Placebo Photobiomodulation Therapy	All parameters as the number of points, dose and place of application of the PBM will be the same as described in the item PBM therapy Intervention Group, however in the placebo PBM equipment will be turned off. The device activation noise will be recorded and used to mimic the irradiation.

Timeline

• Start date: 2023-03-01
• Primary completion: 2024-02-01
• Completion: 2024-03-08
• First posted: 2023-03-08
• Last updated: 2024-03-12

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Brazil