Saltwater gargling, nasal rinsing associated with lower COVID-19 hospitalization

Key takeaways:

• Saltwater gargling and nasal rinsing were associated with significantly lower hospitalization rates in SARS-CoV-2 infection.
• Symptom frequency and duration were similar in low- and high-saline groups.

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Saltwater gargling and nasal rinsing were associated with lower hospitalization rates among people infected with SARS-CoV-2, according to a poster presentation.

The study, which was presented at the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Annual Scientific Meeting, also found comparable results whether using low- or high-dose saline regimens.

“Our goal was to examine saline nasal irrigation and gargling for possible association to improved respiratory symptoms associated with coronavirus infection,” Jimmy Espinoza, MD, MSc, FACOG, professor at McGovern Medical School and co-author of the study, said in a press release. “We found that both saline regimens appear to be associated with lower hospitalization rates compared to controls in SARS-CoV-2 infections.”

Between 2020 to 2022, the Texas-based study recruited 58 adults infected with SARS-CoV-2, as documented through a positive PCR test, who were 14 days or less from symptom onset. Participants gargled saline solution and used it for nasal rinsing four times a day for 14 days. Their hospitalization rates, as well as symptom frequency and duration, were compared against a reference population of 9,398 SARS-CoV-2-infected patients.

Study participants were randomly assigned to either a low-saline regimen (n = 27; median age, 39 years; 63% women) of 2.13 grams of salt or a high-saline regimen (n = 28; median age, 41 years; 57.1% women) of 6 grams of salt. In both, the salt was dissolved in 8 ounces of warm water. Three saline regimen participants were lost to follow-up.

Hospitalization rates included 18.5% (n = 5) in the low-saline group and 21.4% (n = 6) in the high-saline group. Both were significantly lower than the reference population’s hospitalization rate of 58.8% (P < .001).

With about three-quarters of both groups finishing 14 days of treatment, both regimens were associated with similar symptom frequency, with a median of seven symptoms reported in the low-saline group and five in the high-saline group, and duration (median, 7 days vs. 6 days). Also, there were no significant differences in rates of ICU admission between the low-saline regimen (7.4%), high-saline regimen (3.6%) or reference population (3.53%).

“We conclude that low- and high-saline regimens for gargling and nasal rinsing are associated with similar clinical outcomes related with COVID-19 infection. Of note, both saline regimens appear to be associated with lower hospitalization rates compared to no gargling or nasal rinsing in individuals infected by COVID-19,” Sebastian R. Espinoza, lead author of the study and student at Trinity University, said during his presentation. “If confirmed, this simple intervention could be beneficial for individuals with COVID-19 infection, particularly in low resource settings.”

Reference:

• New study: Gargling with salt water may help prevent Covid hospitalization. https://acaai.org/news/new-study-gargling-with-salt-water-may-help-prevent-covid-hospitalization/. Published Nov. 9, 2023. Accessed Nov. 13, 2023.