Sauna bathing reduces the risk of stroke in Finnish men and women: A prospective cohort study
Kunutsor SK, Khan H, Zaccardi F, Laukkanen T, Willeit P, Laukkanen JA
Neurology · 58 citations
How it was studied
- Design
- Cohort study (indexed by PubMed)
- Studied in
- People
- Main outcome
- Clinical events such as disease or death
Who paid for it
- Funding
- Independent funding
- Nonprofit
- Foundation for Cardiovascular Research
- University or hospital
- Itä-Suomen Yliopisto
- Nonprofit
- Sydäntutkimussäätiö
Based on 3 listed funder(s).
Publication
- Published
- 2018-05-02 · Neurology · vol. 90 · issue 22 · pp. e1937–e1944
- Publisher
- Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
- Cited
- 77 citations · more than 97% of similar papers · 5.8× the field average
- Impact
- Top 10% most cited in its field
- References
- 42 works
- Access
- Free to read
- Research areas
- Thermoregulation and physiological responses · Therapeutic Uses of Natural Elements · Skin Protection and Aging
- Keywords
- Bathing, Stroke (engine), Medicine, Stroke risk, Physical therapy, Gerontology, Internal medicine, Ischemic stroke, Engineering, Pathology
- MeSH
- humans, steam bath, risk factors, prospective studies, finland, female, male, stroke
6 authors
From AT, US, GB, FI
- Setor K. KunutsorInnsbruck Medical University; Emory University; University of Leicester; University of Eastern Finland; University of Cambridge; Leicester General Hospital; University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust; Southmead Hospital; University of Bristol
- Hassan KhanInnsbruck Medical University; Emory University; University of Leicester; University of Eastern Finland; University of Cambridge; Leicester General Hospital; University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust; Southmead Hospital; University of Bristol
- Francesco ZaccardiInnsbruck Medical University; Emory University; University of Leicester; University of Eastern Finland; University of Cambridge; Leicester General Hospital; University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust; Southmead Hospital; University of Bristol
- Tanjaniina LaukkanenInnsbruck Medical University; Emory University; University of Leicester; University of Eastern Finland; University of Cambridge; Leicester General Hospital; University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust; Southmead Hospital; University of Bristol
- Peter WilleitInnsbruck Medical University; Emory University; University of Leicester; University of Eastern Finland; University of Cambridge; Leicester General Hospital; University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust; Southmead Hospital; University of Bristol
- Jari A. LaukkanenInnsbruck Medical University; Emory University; University of Leicester; University of Eastern Finland; University of Cambridge; Leicester General Hospital; University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust; Southmead Hospital; University of Bristol
Abstract
Objective
To assess the association between frequency of sauna bathing and risk of future stroke.
Methods
Baseline habits of sauna bathing were assessed in 1,628 adult men and women aged 53-74 years (mean age, 62.7 years) without a known history of stroke in the Finnish Kuopio Ischemic Heart Disease prospective cohort study. Three sauna bathing frequency groups were defined: 1, 2-3, and 4-7 sessions per week. Hazard ratios (HRs) (95% confidence intervals [CIs]) were estimated for incident stroke.
Results
During a median follow-up of 14.9 years, 155 incident stroke events were recorded. Compared with participants who had one sauna bathing session per week, the age- and sex-adjusted HR (95% CI) for stroke was 0.39 (0.18-0.83) for participants who had 4-7 sauna sessions per week. After further adjustment for established cardiovascular risk factors and other potential confounders, the corresponding HR (95% CI) was 0.39 (0.18-0.84) and this remained persistent on additional adjustment for physical activity and socioeconomic status at 0.38 (0.18-0.81). The association between frequency of sauna bathing and risk of stroke was not modified by age, sex, or other clinical characteristics (p for interaction > 0.10 for all subgroups). The association was similar for ischemic stroke but modest for hemorrhagic stroke, which could be attributed to the low event rate (n = 34).
Conclusions
This long-term follow-up study shows that middle-aged to elderly men and women who take frequent sauna baths have a substantially reduced risk of new-onset stroke.
Abstract via Europe PMC. Copyright remains with the authors or publisher.
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