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Table 3 Effect of ITW on cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF) after 24 weeks; mean (SD), intention-to-treat population (N = 59)

From: Outcomes from a three-arm randomized controlled trial of frequent immersion in thermoneutral water on cardiovascular risk factors

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)

  
  1. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) with baseline values as covariates. P-value and partial eta2 refer to time × group interaction
  2. BMI body mass index, CRP C-reactive protein, HDL high-density lipoprotein, ITW immersion in thermoneutral water, LDL low-density lipoprotein