Hemodynamic Response during Japanese-Style Bathing in Elderly Disabled Subjects

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 bath- ing 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 in- dividuals. 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 <125 mmHg experienced a greater elevation in blood pressure while bathing. Pulse rate was sig- nificantly increased after bathing, and the change in pulse rate correlated negatively with the baseline values. SpO2 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.