research paper Balneotherapy and health-related quality of life in individuals with rheumatoid arthritis: an observational study under real clinical practice conditions

Balneotherapy in rheumatoid arthritis: real clinical practice conditions

Authors

  • Helena Romay-Barrero University of Castilla-La Mancha, Toledo. Spain
  • Jesús Herrero-López Fitero Spa.
  • Jesús Antonio Llorente-González Fitero Spa.
  • Gonzalo Melgar-Del Corral University of Castilla-La Mancha, Toledo. Spain
  • Rocío Palomo-Carrión University of Castilla-La Mancha, Toledo. Spain
  • Inés Martínez-Galán University of Castilla-La Mancha, Toledo. Spain

Abstract

Introduction To analyse the influence of balneotherapy applied under real clinical practice conditions on the quality of life and functionality of patients diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. Material and methods Prospective, observational study conducted with a group of patients under real clinical practice conditions, with a 6-month follow-up.
The participants were beneficiaries of the social thermalism programme of the Spanish Ministry of Health, Consumption and Social Well-being, aged 60-80 years and diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, who were treated at Fitero’s Spa (Spain). The study excluded those individuals who had undergone another balneotherapeutic treatment in the previous 6 months, and those who had scheduled one in the following 6 months.
Ten treatment sessions were applied. Each session included a bath and one or two additional techniques, which varied in each case, depending on the characteristics and preferences of the patient. The variables were gathered before initiating the treatment, and at 1, 3 and 6 months post-treatment. Results The study included 49 individuals with an average age of 71.0 (SD 4.79) years.
The variable “current health state” of EuroQol 5D-5L increased by 6.73 [-13.44 to -2.53] points and 6.26 [-12.07 to -0.46] in the first and third month, respectively. Pain was the dimension in which the largest number of participants reduced the level of their response in all the follow-up periods. Functionality showed an improvement of 0.196 [0.060 to 0.332] in the third month. Conclusions The beneficial effects of balneotherapy on the health-related quality of life and functionality in individuals with rheumatoid arthritis can be positive.

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Published

2022-12-19