The Interplay between Systolic Blood Pressure, Sauna Bathing, and Cardiovascular Mortality in Middle-Aged and Older Finnish Men: A Cohort Study

Objectives Elevated systolic blood pressure (SBP) is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality, whereas frequent sauna bathing reduces the risk. Whether frequent sauna bathing mitigates CVD mortality among adults with elevated SBP has not been previously investigated. Design and Setting We examined the interactions between SBP and frequency of sauna bathing (FSB) with the risk of CVD mortality in a cohort of Caucasian men. Participants The Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease Study cohort comprising of 2,575 men aged 42–61 years at baseline was employed for this prospective study analysis. Measurements Resting blood pressure was measured using a standardized protocol and sauna bathing habits were assessed by a self-administered questionnaire. Systolic blood pressure was categorized as normal and high (