Recruiting

Heat pad therapy to prevent COVID-19 from worsening

Plain-English translation of NCT04363541 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated November 2020 · Translation generated June 2026 · How we translate trials

This study doesn't follow the usual testing phases — it may be an observational study or a different type of research.

What is this trial?

This study is testing whether using an electric heat pad on your chest can help your body fight off COVID-19 and prevent the infection from becoming more serious. Researchers believe that gently warming the area where the virus affects your lungs might help your body eliminate the virus more effectively. If you qualify, you'll either receive this heat pad treatment along with regular hospital care, or just regular hospital care alone.

COVID-19 can sometimes get worse quickly, especially in people at higher risk. Doctors need new ways to prevent mild and moderate cases from becoming severe, and this trial is exploring whether gentle heat therapy might be a simple, safe way to help your body fight the virus during the critical early days of infection.

Do you qualify?

You likely qualify if…

you have COVID-19 symptoms (such as fever, cough, sore throat, fatigue, or shortness of breath)
you have mild-to-moderate COVID-19 with oxygen levels of at least 90-94% breathing regular air
your symptoms started within the last 5 days
you are willing to be randomly assigned to either the heat pad group or the regular care group
you are not pregnant

You likely don't qualify if…

you are suspected to be or confirmed pregnant
you have severe or critical COVID-19 (very low oxygen levels or requiring a lot of extra oxygen)
you have had COVID-19 before and only recently recovered
you have another serious health condition that is getting much worse
you cannot tolerate heat therapy or prefer not to use the heat pad

What participation looks like

You will be hospitalized and randomly assigned to one of two groups. If you're in the heat pad group, you'll apply a warm electric pad to your chest for 90 minutes, twice a day, for 5 days—along with your regular hospital care. If you're in the comparison group, you'll receive regular hospital care without the heat pad. The study team will monitor your oxygen levels, symptoms, and overall progress throughout your hospital stay and watch to see whether the heat therapy helps prevent your illness from getting worse.

Heat pad therapy to prevent COVID-19 from worsening

What is this trial?

Do you qualify?

What participation looks like

Trial locations(3 sites)