Balneotherapy and Echocardiographic Findings in Osteoarthritis

Bursa City Hospital

Status: Completed

Conditions: Osteoarthritis

Treatments: Other: balneotherapy

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06923969

2026-PMR-6

Details and patient eligibility

About

This prospective observational study aims to evaluate changes in heart function using echocardiography before and after a standardized balneotherapy program in adult and elderly patients with osteoarthritis.

Balneotherapy is commonly used by patients with osteoarthritis, especially in older age groups, who may also have known or unrecognized cardiovascular conditions. For this reason, heart function is evaluated using transthoracic echocardiography prior to the start of balneotherapy and again after completion of the treatment program.

The study focuses on changes in echocardiographic parameters related to left ventricular systolic and diastolic function. By comparing measurements obtained before and after balneotherapy, this study seeks to improve understanding of the potential effects of balneotherapy on cardiac function in patients with osteoarthritis.

Full description

Balneotherapy is frequently preferred by adult and elderly patients with osteoarthritis as part of rehabilitation programs. This population may have a higher prevalence of overt or subclinical cardiovascular disease; therefore, cardiovascular evaluation before and after balneotherapy may be clinically relevant.

In this prospective observational study, patients with osteoarthritis who are scheduled to undergo a standardized balneotherapy program are evaluated using transthoracic echocardiography prior to treatment initiation and again after completion of the program. Echocardiographic examinations are performed to assess parameters related to left ventricular systolic and diastolic function, as well as aortic hemodynamics.

The balneotherapy program consists of head-out immersion in thermal pools with acratothermal water at a temperature of approximately 38 °C, applied for 20 minutes per session, 5 days per week, over a 15-day period. Echocardiographic measurements obtained before and after the intervention are compared to evaluate potential changes in cardiac function associated with balneotherapy.

Enrollment: 44 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 40 to 80 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Inclusion Criterias:

• Having balneotherapy sessions 5 days a week for total of three weeks
• Having detailed echocardiography records

Exclusion Criterias:

• Having history of major surgery,
• cerebrovascular accident,
• malignancy,
• liver or renal failure,
• immunodeficiency,
• acute/chronic infection,
• psychiatric disorders were exluded.