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

Objective: To examine associations between sauna bathing frequency and fatal cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in a prospective Finnish cohort. Men were categorized according to habitual sauna use and followed for cardiovascular and noncardiovascular mortality outcomes over long-term observation. Frequent sauna bathing was associated with lower risk of fatal cardiovascular events and lower all-cause mortality compared with infrequent use, even after adjustment for major confounders. The relationship showed a dose-response pattern, with more frequent bathing generally linked to more favorable outcomes. The authors interpreted the findings as potentially reflecting a combination of relaxation, vascular effects, improved autonomic balance, and lifestyle correlates, while emphasizing that causality cannot be established in an observational design. The study's strengths included a well-characterized cohort and long follow-up, but residual confounding and healthy-user bias remain important limitations. These results helped establish sauna exposure as a plausible cardiometabolic health behavior worthy of further investigation.