Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi
New Delhi, Jun 19: A recent pilot study has found that passive heat exposure through far infrared sauna therapy may improve vascular function and exercise capacity in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), without causing adverse effects on kidney function.
The randomised crossover study involved 10 patients with stage G2 to G4 CKD, with an average age of 41 years. Participants underwent sessions of far infrared sauna exposure and thermoneutral control conditions, with researchers assessing vascular responses and exercise performance following each intervention.
Researchers found significant improvements in macrovascular function after passive heating. Flow-mediated dilation, a measure of blood vessel health, increased from 3.84 per cent under control conditions to 6.68 per cent following heat exposure. Microvascular function also improved, with enhanced blood flow responses observed during passive limb movement assessments.
All vascular measurements were conducted after a 60-minute recovery period following the interventions.
The study also reported gains in physical performance. During the six-minute walk test, participants covered an average distance of 670 yards after passive heating compared to 632 yards under control conditions, indicating improved functional exercise capacity.
Importantly, researchers found no significant changes in kidney function or urinary biomarkers associated with acute kidney injury immediately after the intervention or 24 hours later. The findings suggest that a single session of passive heat therapy did not adversely affect renal physiology in the participants studied.
According to the researchers, this is the first study to examine the acute renal, vascular and exercise responses to passive heat exposure in individuals with CKD. They noted that the observed improvements in vascular health and exercise performance could offer a promising therapeutic approach for addressing cardiovascular complications commonly associated with chronic kidney disease.
However, the researchers cautioned that the study involved a small number of participants and that larger clinical trials are needed to confirm the long-term benefits and safety of passive heating interventions in CKD patients.
The findings provide preliminary evidence supporting further research into heat-based therapies as a potential non-pharmacological strategy for improving cardiovascular and physical health outcomes in people living with chronic kidney disease.