Safety, acceptance, and physiologic effects of sauna bathing in people with chronic heart failure: a pilot report.
OBJECTIVE
To perform a pilot study and make a preliminary assessment of the safety and acceptance of supervised sauna bathing at moderate temperatures in people with chronic heart failure (CHF). Secondary measures included its impact on exercise tolerance and neuroendocrine concentrations.


METHODS
Randomized, controlled, cross-over trial.


METHODS
Physical medicine and rehabilitation clinic.


METHODS
Six men and 3 women (age, 62-87y) with New York Heart Association Class III and IV CHF.


METHODS
Subjects were randomized into 2 groups and told to maintain their normal medication and activity regimens. One group then began a 3-times-a-week, 4-week sauna bathing program at 60+/-1 degrees C while the other continued with their usual activities and medications. Assignments were then reversed. Sessions were 15 minutes in length but were prolonged an additional 5 minutes for oral temperature increases less than 1.0 degrees C.


METHODS
Patient acceptance, Minnesota Living With Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLWHFQ) scores; treadmill exercise duration and plasma adrenaline, noradrenalin, aldosterone, atrial naturectic factor, adrenomedulin, and endothelin.


RESULTS
Sauna bathing was well tolerated and no adverse effects were reported. Improvements in MLWHFQ scores and treadmill endurance did not achieve statistical significance on a between-group basis but were more marked after the sauna than during the control phase. Neuroendocrine concentrations showed no clear effect of sauna treatment with a between-group statistically significant difference (P=.049) found only in the case of noradrenalin's 24% decrease.


CONCLUSIONS
Sauna bathing under the moderate and supervised conditions of this study appears to be well tolerated and may be safe for people with CHF. More research is needed to further evaluate the safety and potential benefits of this approach.
Basford
Jeffrey R
JR
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Mayo Clinic Rochester, Rochester, MN, USA. basford.jeffrey@mayo.edu
Oh
Jae K
JK
Allison
Thomas G
TG
Sheffield
Charles G
CG
Manahan
Barbara G
BG
Hodge
David O
DO
Tajik
A Jamil
AJ
Rodeheffer
Richard J
RJ
Tei
Chuwa
C
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002908:Chronic Disease; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000097:blood / Q000145:classification / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012449:Safety; D029002:Steam Bath