Sauna therapy added to cardiac rehab for heart failure with reduced or moderately reduced EF

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This interventional study randomizes adults with heart failure (EF ≤50%) in a hospital-based rehabilitation program to receive either standard cardiac rehabilitation or standard rehab plus sauna sessions. The goal is to see if sauna therapy improves congestion, symptoms, and quality of life, and whether it enables a lower diuretic dose. Outcomes include changes in congestion, functional capacity, and possibly diuretic requirements, alongside safety in a controlled setting. The trial will monitor renal function, electrolytes, and biomarkers to ensure safety during sauna exposure. It is conducted at a single regional center in Nancy, France, with participants followed during the rehab period.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

* Age ≥ 18 years.
* Heart failure with ejection fraction \<50% confirmed by an echocardiogram within the past year.
* NYHA class II-III.
* Loop diuretic dose ≥ 40 mg/day of furosemide (or equivalent) for at least 30 days.
* NT-proBNP \> 400 pg/ml or BNP \> 100 pg/ml.
* Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≥ 20 ml/min/1.73 m².
* Patient scheduled for a hospital-based cardiac rehabilitation program for a minimum of 3 weeks.
* Person who has undergone a preliminary clinical examination suitable for clinical research.
* Person affiliated with a social security system or a beneficiary of such a system.
* Person who has received complete information about the organization of the clinical research and has signed informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Person presenting a contraindication to sauna therapy (for example, intolerance to heat).
* Serum sodium \< 130 mmol/L.
* Serum potassium \> 5.5 mmol/L.
* Active infection, liver disease, or peripheral vascular disease.
* Acute coronary syndrome or recent stroke (\<90 days).
* Participation in another interventional clinical trial.
* Person subject to Articles L. 1121-5, L. 1121-7, and L. 1121-8 of the Public Health Code (applicable in France) :- pregnant, giving birth, or breastfeeding woman , minor (non-emancipated), person adult subject to a legal protection measure (guardianship, curatorship, judicial protection) , adult unable to express consent, persons deprived of liberty by judicial or administrative decision, persons receiving psychiatric care under Articles L. 3212-1 and L. 3213-1…
* Person who objects to the processing of their data for quality control purposes

Where it's running

• Centre Hospitalier Régional Universitaire de Nancy
  Nancy, France Recruiting

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Nicolas Girerd
• Email: n.girerd@chru-nancy.fr
• Phone: +33 03 83 15 74 96

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How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.