Table 3.
Effect of ITW on cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF) after 24 weeks; mean (SD), intention-to-treat population (N = 59)
| CVRF | Group | Baseline | Week 4 | Week 24 | Change Baseline/Week 24 | P Value | Partial eta2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BMI (kg/m2) | Bath 1 | 29.9 (5.3) | 29.5 (5.0) | 29.3 (4.9) | −0.6 (3.2) | ||
| Bath 2 | 27.4 (5.3) | 27.5 (5.5) | 27.2 (5.8) | −0.2 (3.5) | 0.30 | 0.04 | |
| Control | 31.3 (5.9) | 31.5 (5.9) | 31.1 (5.7) | −0.2 (3.7) | |||
| Waist circumference (cm) | Bath 1 | 105.5 (13.6) | 103.7 (13.8) | 104.1 (12.8) | −1.4 (8.4) | ||
| Bath 2 | 98.4 (12.7) | 98.9 (14.6) | 98.2 (15.6) | −0.2 (9.4) | 0.69 | 0.01 | |
| Control | 102.5 (10.7) | 102.3 (9.9) | 101.8 (10.7) | −0.7 (6.8) | |||
| Cholesterol total (mg/dl) (50–200) | Bath 1 | 219.4 (38.2) | 215.2 (32.3) | 211.1 (34.6) | −8.3 (23.3) | ||
| Bath 2 | 230.2 (35.0) | 233.1 (32.4) | 236.6 (47.3) | 6.4 (28.5) | 0.09 | 0.09 | |
| Control | 226.9 (35.6) | 212.9 (33.3) | 222.2 (34.4) | −4.7 (22.2) | |||
| LDL (mg/dl) (<160) | Bath 1 | 134.5 (33.3) | 135.7 (29.1) | 129.9 (27.0) | −4.6 (20.0) | ||
| Bath 2 | 143.0 (30.6) | 144.9 (25.7) | 147.2 (32.7) | 4.2 (20.1) | 0.13 | 0.09 | |
| Control | 136.8 (35.1) | 128.9 (34.2) | 141.7 (34.3) | 4.9 (22.0) | |||
| HDL (mg/dl) (>40) | Bath 1 | 47.3 (13.1) | 47.0 (15.3) | 45.8 (11.0) | −1.5 (7.9) | ||
| Bath 2 | 51.4 (14.7) | 52.8 (14.2) | 51.1 (15.1) | −0.3 (9.4) | 0.84 | 0.01 | |
| Control | 44.0 (15.2) | 45.8 (13.6) | 45.9 (15.5) | 1.9 (9.7) | |||
| LDL/HDL Quotient (<3) | Bath 1 | 2.9 (0.9) | 3.1 (1.0) | 3.0 (0.9) | 0.1 (0.6) | ||
| Bath 2 | 3.1 (1.5) | 2.9 (0.9) | 3.0 (1.0) | −0.1 (0.9) | 0.39 | 0.04 | |
| Control | 3.5 (1.5) | 3.1 (1.4) | 3.6 (1.9) | 0.1 (1.1) | |||
| Triglyceride (mg/dl) (<150) | Bath 1 | 168.0 (107.0) | 146.0 (77.0) | 126.0 (42.0) | −42.0 (77.6) | ||
| Bath 2 | 126.0 (56.0) | 134.0 (66.0) | 121.0 (56.0) | −5.0 (35.4) | 0.77 | 0.01 | |
| Control | 168.0 (95.0) | 149.0 (68.0) | 144.0 (57.0) | −24.0 (60.1) | |||
| CRP (mg/l) (0–5) | Bath 1 | 2.5 (2.3) | 1.6 (1.3) | 1.6 (1.3) | −0.9 (1.5) | ||
| Bath 2 | 2.3 (2.3) | 1.8 (1.9) | 2.3 (2.7) | 0.0 (1.6) | 0.64 | 0.02 | |
| Control | 3.3 (2.3) | 2.5 (2.3) | 2.4 (2.5) | −0.9 (1.5) | |||
| Fasting blood glucose (mg/dl) (70–110) | Bath 1 | 110.0 (30.0) | 101.0 (24.0) | 104.0 (26.0) | −6.0 (18.1) | ||
| Bath 2 | 90.0 (18.0) | 91.0 (12.0) | 88.0 (8.0) | −2.0 (12.6) | 0.55 | 0.03 | |
| Control | 95.0 (15.0) | 90.0 (15.0) | 93.0 (15.0) | −2.0 (9.5) |
Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) with baseline values as covariates. P-value and partial eta2 refer to time × group interaction
BMI body mass index, CRP C-reactive protein, HDL high-density lipoprotein, ITW immersion in thermoneutral water, LDL low-density lipoprotein