Comparisons between hemodynamics, during and after bathing, and prognosis in patients with myocardial infarction

Comparison of Blood Pressure and Pulse Adaptations Between Younger and Older Patients During Balneotherapy With Physiotherapy

Objective

This study aimed to investigate the blood pressure and pulse adaptation characteristics between younger and older patients with musculoskeletal disorders during acute and recovery responses at the first and 10th sessions of balneotherapy added to physiotherapy.

Methods

Forty-six participants (n = 22, between 18 and 35 years of age as young adults; n = 24, more than 65 years of age as older adults) with musculoskeletal disorders admitted to physiotherapy therapy sessions with balneotherapy were enrolled. The participants' immersion time was 20 minutes each during 10 sessions occurring over the course of 2 weeks. Blood pressure and pulse were measured at the baseline and the 5th minute as acute responses, and at the baseline and the 30th minute as recovery responses during the first and 10th sessions.

Results

First, the group and session effect was examined. There was no significance in this part. Then, session main effect and group main effect were examined. The group main effect was significant, that is, a difference was found between groups independent of the session in terms of only pulse values (P < .001). There was no difference in sessions. The acute and recovery responses of the pulse at the first and 10th sessions of balneotherapy showed higher alterations in the young people compared with the older people (P < .008).

Conclusion

Greater pulse alterations at the acute and recovery phases of the first and 10th sessions were observed in young adults.

Elderly deaths associated with balneotherapy in Denizli, Turkey province: three autopsy cases

BACKGROUND

Turkey is one of the richest countries in the world in terms of balneotherapy resources. Thermomineral water baths are preferred by the elderly because of their positive beneficial effects over regulation of musculoskeletal system functions. However, existing cardiovascular and respiratory system diseases may constitute a risk and trigger ischemic changes in the heart.

METHODS

In this study, 2 cases are presented who suffered sudden cardiac death while having a thermal bath and 1 drowning case that was precipitated by chronic myocardial infarction. While 1 case was 63 years old, 2 cases were above 65 years of age. Two (2) cases had atherosclerotic coronary artery disease, whereas 1 case had heart failure.

RESULTS

The success of spa treatment, which is based on stimulation/harmonization therapy, restores bodily harmony and depends on the health of organs and functions playing a role in this process.

CONCLUSIONS

In the elderly, some conditions, particularly limited pulmonary and cardiovascular functionality, should be taken into consideration while applying those treatments.

Characteristics of adult scald burn patients-a single center study in western Kanagawa Prefecture

Burns sustained in bathtubs are a social and medical problem in Japan, especially among the elderly. Between October 2003 and March 2009, 22 adult scald burn patients (men, 17; average age, 65.3 ± 21.2 years) were transferred to Tokai University. In this study, we investigated the characteristics of these patients, and compared clinical parameters among patients with burns sustained in a bathtub (n = 10) and those with burns sustained due to other causes (n = 12). The average percentage total body surface area (%TBSA), dermal and deep burn area, and abbreviated burn severity index (ABSI) were 27.6 ± 23.8, 19.9 ± 20.5%, 7.8 ± 13.1%, and 7.7 ± 3.1, respectively. All patients in the bathtub burn group were elderly, 6 developed internal diseases, 3 had alcohol-related burns, and 4 died. Additionally, their %TBSA and ABSI were higher than those of the non-bathtub burn group patients. Burns sustained in bathtubs were more severe than those sustained due to other causes. The bathtub-related burn patients were elderly, and their burns were extensive and deep; hence, they were at a higher risk of developing internal diseases. Thus, introduction of safer bathing styles and bath systems will decrease incidences of bathtub-related burns.

High heart rate relates to clustering of cardiovascular risk factors in a screened cohort

Increased heart rate (HR) is a predictor of cardiovascular mortality, so the present study used a screened cohort to investigate whether the clustering of cardiovascular risk factors is associated with increased HR. Individuals who were receiving medication for hypertension or heart disease and those who did not have an ECG record or who had a record of arrhythmia were excluded. In total, 8,508 subjects (5,299 men, 3,209 women; age range, 18-89 years) were studied. Subjects were divided into 2 HR classes using the value of mean HR+ 1 SD as the cut-off point: low HR (HR < 77 beats/min, n=7,320) and high HR (HR > or = 77 beats/min, n=1,188). For logistic regression analysis, the dependent variable was HR class and the independent variables were the number of risk factors (ie, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and hypertriglyceridemia each of which was associated positively with HR class by multivariate analysis). The odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for the number of risk factors were 1.412 (1.216-1.640) for 1 risk factor, 2.800 (2.269-3.455) for 2, and 4.582 (2.815-7.459) for 3. Multivariate regression analyses showed that the number of risk factors from 0 to 3 correlated positively with high HR. HR increased significantly with clustering of risk factors even with low HR (regression coefficient was 1.147, p<0.0001). Modifying the risk factors may lower HR and reduce cardiovascular mortality.