Effects of repeated sauna treatment on ventricular arrhythmias in patients with chronic heart failure.
BACKGROUND
The aim of the present study was to determine whether repeated 60 degrees C sauna treatment improves cardiac arrhythmias in chronic heart failure (CHF) patients, because ventricular arrhythmias are an important therapeutic target in CHF.


RESULTS
Thirty patients (59+/-3 years) with New York Heart Association functional class II or III CHF and at least 200 premature ventricular contractions (PVCs)/24 h assessed by 24-h Holter recordings were studied. They were randomized into sauna-treated (n=20) or non-treated (n=10) groups. The sauna-treated group underwent a 2-week program of a daily 60 degrees C far infrared-ray dry sauna for 15 min, followed by 30 min bed rest with blankets, for 5 days per week. Patients in the non-treated group had bed rest in a temperature-controlled room (24 degrees C) for 45 min. The total numbers of PVCs/24 h in the sauna-treated group decreased compared with the non-treated group [848+/-415 vs 3,097+/-1,033/24 h, p<0.01]. Heart rate variability (SDNN, standard deviation of normal-to-normal beat interval) increased [142+/-10 (n=16) vs 112+/-11 ms (n=8), p<0.05] and plasma brain natriuretic peptide concentrations decreased [229+/-54 vs 419+/-110 pg/ml, p<0.05] in the sauna-treated group compared with the non-treated group.


CONCLUSIONS
Repeated sauna treatment improves ventricular arrhythmias in patients with CHF.
Kihara
Takashi
T
Department of Cardiovascular, Graduate School of Medicine, Kagoshima University, Sakuragaoka, Kagoshima, Japan.
Biro
Sadatoshi
S
Ikeda
Yoshiyuki
Y
Fukudome
Tsuyoshi
T
Shinsato
Takuro
T
Masuda
Akinori
A
Miyata
Masaaki
M
Hamasaki
Shuichi
S
Otsuji
Yutaka
Y
Minagoe
Shinichi
S
Akiba
Suminori
S
Tei
Chuwa
C
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D002303:Cardiac Output, Low / Q000150:complications*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004452:Echocardiography; D015716:Electrocardiography, Ambulatory; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000097:blood; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D019233:Retreatment; D029002:Steam Bath; D013997:Time Factors; D018754:Ventricular Dysfunction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D018879:Ventricular Premature Complexes / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control
D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents