Association between sauna bathing and fatal cardiovascular and all-cause mortality events

Laukkanen T, Khan H, Zaccardi F, Laukkanen JA · JAMA Internal Medicine

4-7 sessions per week was associated with adjusted hazard ratios of 0.37 (95% CI 0.18-0.75) for sudden cardiac death and 0.60 (0.46-0.80) for all-cause mortality vs one session per week. No joint or musculoskeletal outcome was assessed.

Population

Middle-aged Finnish men (42-60), KIHD cohort, median 20.7-year follow-up

Intervention

Habitual traditional Finnish sauna bathing (mean 78.9°C, 10-20% humidity), self-reported frequency

Comparator

One sauna session per week (reference group)

Limitations

Observational; men only; one-time questionnaire exposure; residual confounding acknowledged by the authors. Cardiovascular endpoints only — carries no information about cartilage or joints.