Heart failure & cardiomyopathies
Effects of sauna bathing on exercise capacity and muscle function in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) (SAUNA-HFpEF)
Authors' conclusion
Sauna bathing was safe, feasible, and improved exercise capacity, body composition, muscle function, and QoL in HFpEF. Benefits diminished after withdrawal.
Study context
- Population
- Stable HFpEF outpatientscompleted the study
- Participants
- 18 outpatients
- Comparison
- Before vs after 10 weeks of supervised sauna bathing
- Outcome
- Peak VO2 and 6MWT, baseline to end of study (10 weeks)
- Follow-up
- 10 weeks
Methodological detailsprospective, translational pilot study, single-group
- Prospective
- Translational pilot study
- Single-group
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
10 weeks
- Peak VO2 improved (ml/min/kg)
- 18.2±5.1 to 20.6±5.7 ml/min/kg, p<0.001
- 6MWT improved (m)
- 494±95 to 527±111m (p=0.006)
- Anaerobic threshold, quadriceps strength, diastolic function (E/e´), HADS-depression-score and SF-36 social functioning also improved
- p<0.05
Further findings
Anaerobic threshold, quadriceps strength, diastolic function (E/e´), HADS-depression score, SF-36 social functioning · 10 weeks
- Improved
- P < 0.05
Peak VO2 and anaerobic threshold at follow-up · 3 months after withdrawal
- Declined compared to end of study
- P < 0.01
Body fat mass
- Decreased continuously
Muscle biopsies · 10 weeks
- Anabolic/metabolic upregulation and catabolism downregulation
Safety
- No adverse events
- 97% adherence
Original publication
Effects of sauna bathing on exercise capacity and muscle function in HFpEF (SAUNA-HFpEF). Eur J Heart Fail. Published 14 March 2026. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →