Waon Therapy for Managing Chronic Heart Failure – Results From a Multicenter Prospective Randomized WAON-CHF Study –
Year: 2016
Type: article
Study designs: Randomized Controlled Trial, Clinical Trial
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Waon therapy improves heart failure (HF) symptoms, but further evidence in patients with advanced HF remains uncertain. METHODS AND RESULTS: In 19 institutes, we prospectively enrolled hospitalized patients with advanced HF, who had plasma levels of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) >500 pg/ml on admission and BNP >300 pg/ml regardless of more than 1 week of medical therapy. Enrolled patients were randomized into Waon therapy or control groups. Waon therapy was performed once daily for 10 days with a far infrared-ray dry sauna maintained at 60℃ for 15 min, followed by bed rest for 30 min covered with a blanket. The primary endpoint was the ratio of BNP before and after treatment. In total, 76 Waon therapy and 73 control patients (mean age 66 years, men 61%, mean plasma BNP 777 pg/ml) were studied. The groups differed only in body mass index and the frequency of diabetes. The plasma BNP, NYHA classification, 6-min walk distance (6MWD), and cardiothoracic ratio significantly improved only in the Waon therapy group. Improvements in NYHA classification, 6MWD, and cardiothoracic ratio were significant in the Waon therapy group, although the change in plasma BNP did not reach statistical significance. No serious adverse events were observed in either group. CONCLUSIONS: Waon therapy, a holistic soothing warmth therapy, showed clinical advantages in safety and efficacy among patients with advanced HF.
Source: Circulation Journal
Authors: Chuwa Tei, Teruhiko Imamura, Koichiro Kinugawa, Teruo Inoue, Tohru Masuyama, Hiroshi Inoue, Hirofumi Noike, Toshihiro Muramatsu, Yasuchika Takeishi, Keijiro Saku, Kazumasa Harada, Hiroyuki Daida, Youichi Kobayashi, Nobuhisa Hagiwara, Masatoshi Nagayama, Shinichi Momomura, Kazuya Yonezawa, Hiroshi Ito, Satoshi Gojo, Makoto Akaishi, Masaaki Miyata, Mitsuru Ohishi, WAON-CHF Study Investigators
Institutions: Dokkyo Medical University, The University of Tokyo, University of Toyama, Dokkyo University, Hyogo Medical University, Saiseikai Toyama Hospital, Toho University, Toho University Medical Center Sakura Hospital, Saitama International Medical Center, Saitama Medical University, Fukushima Medical University, Fukuoka University Hospital, Tokyo Metropolitan Geriatric Hospital, Juntendo University Hospital, SHOWA Medical University, Tokyo Women's Medical University Hospital, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Sakakibara Hospital, Jichi Medical University Saitama Medical Center, Hakodate National Hospital, Okayama University Hospital, Kyoto Prefectural University, Kitasato Institute Hospital, Kagoshima University Hospital
Language: English
Subfield: Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
Funder: Japan Heart Foundation
OpenAlex ID: W2298950328