TITLE:
Hemodynamic Response during Japanese-Style Bathing in Elderly Disabled Subjects
AUTHORS:
Naomi Iwane, Takuzo Hano, Yumi Koike, Kanami Nishihara
KEYWORDS:
Elderly, Blood Pressure, Heart Rate, SpO2, Bathing, Japanese-Style Bathtub
JOURNAL NAME:
Health,
Vol.6 No.21,
December
26,
2014
ABSTRACT: Aims: Bathing in
deep, Japanese-style bathtubs is associated with high rates of sudden death in
the elderly in Japan. The predominant causes of death in such cases are
cardiovascular events and drowning. Blood pressure changes induced by water
pressure and high temperature during bathing may be an important cause of these
accidents. Therefore, we investigated the changes in blood pressure, heart
rate, and oxygen saturation (SpO2) before and after bathing in
elderly Japanese individuals. Methods: Forty-eight elderly (average age, 86.4 ±
7.5 years) persons were enrolled in this study. Results: Changes in systolic
blood pressure after bathing correlated negatively with baseline blood pressure
before bathing, and participants with baseline systolic blood pressures of
2 did not
differ significantly during bathing, but changes in SpO2 correlated
negatively with baseline values. Lean participants showed a more marked
elevation of SpO2, and those with hypertension showed reduced SpO2.
Conclusion: These data suggest that the disabled elderly with low blood
pressure experience trends in cardiovascular response during bathing which
differ from those of young persons.