Sauna bathing, renal function and chronic kidney disease: Cross-sectional and longitudinal findings from the KIHD study
Kunutsor SK, Kauhanen J, Laukkanen JA
European journal of clinical investigation · 2 citations
How it was studied
- Design
- Cross-sectional 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
- 2023-04-08 · Eur J Clin Invest · vol. 53 · issue 8 · p. e14001
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Cited
- 3 citations · more than 58% of similar papers · 0.4× the field average
- References
- 50 works
- Access
- Open access (hybrid journal) · CC-BY
- Research areas
- Thermoregulation and physiological responses · Therapeutic Uses of Natural Elements · Skin Protection and Aging
- Keywords
- Cross-sectional study, Renal function, Medicine, Kidney disease, Internal medicine, Bathing, Gerontology, Pathology
- MeSH
- kidney, humans, creatinine, steam bath, risk factors, cross-sectional studies, adult, middle aged, male, renal insufficiency, chronic
3 authors
From GB, FI
- Setor K. Kunutsor · correspondingUniversity of Leicester; Leicester General Hospital
- Jussi KauhanenUniversity of Eastern Finland
- Jari A. LaukkanenUniversity of Eastern Finland; Central Finland Health Care District
Abstract
Background
It is uncertain if passive heat therapies are associated with adverse renal outcomes. We sought to evaluate the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations of the frequency of sauna bathing with renal function measures and chronic kidney disease (CKD).
Materials and methods
Baseline self-reported sauna bathing habits were assessed in 2071 men aged 42-61 years with normal kidney function. Baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and serum levels of creatinine, potassium (K) and sodium (Na) were measured, with only 11-year measurements of K and Na 11 years in a random subset of participants due to logistical reasons. Study participants were followed up for CKD diagnosed using KDOQI guidelines, which were collected from the National Hospital Discharge Registry. The associations of frequency of sauna bathing with renal function measures were evaluated using regression analyses. Hazard ratios (HRs; 95% CIs) were estimated for CKD.
Results
There were no significant changes in baseline levels of estimated GFR, creatinine and Na comparing 4-7 sauna sessions/week versus 1 sauna session/week; there was a slight increase in K .05 mmoL/L (95% CI, .00, .10; p = .033). There were no significant changes in levels of serum K and Na at 11 years. After 25.7 years overall median follow-up, 188 CKD cases were recorded. Comparing 4-7 sauna sessions/week with 1 sauna session/week, there was no evidence of an association with CKD .84 (95% CI, .46-1.53; p = .56).
Conclusions
Cross-sectional and longitudinal observational evidence suggests that frequent sauna bathing is not associated with impaired renal function or the future risk of CKD.
Abstract via Europe PMC. Copyright remains with the authors or publisher (CC BY).
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