The role of climatotherapy in increasing the effectiveness of spa treatment

Introduction. Spa treatment plays a significant role in the rehabilitation of patients with coronary heart disease, helping to consolidate the results of inpatient treatment and enhance the body’s adaptive reserves without increasing medication. This article examines the climatic conditions of the Priozerny Sanatorium and its impact on patients with functional class I and II coronary heart disease undergoing spa treatment and recuperation.

Aim. To evaluate the influence of climatic conditions of the health resort area (HRA) of the Priozerny health resort on the psychofunctional state and quality of life of patients with ischemic heart disease of I and II functional classes in order to increase the effectiveness of health resort treatment (climatotherapy).

Materials and methods. The climatic conditions of the Priozerny Sanatorium’s HRA were assessed using official data from the weather station located in the area covering the territory of the resort. The comfort of climatic conditions in winter was assessed using the following indices: Siple, Bodman, and Arnoldi weather severity. Psychoemotional status was assessed using validated questionnaires: the Differential Self-Assessment Test WAM (well-being, activity, mood), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and the EQ-5D-5L quality of life questionnaire. The representative sample consisted of 50 patients with coronary heart disease, functional classes I and II.

Results. When assessing the indices, it was established: according to Bodman – a subjective feeling of “moderate coolness” or “comfort” (1.7 points); “weather severity” according to Arnoldi (–7.9 points), according to Seiple “slight cooling” (797.9 kcal/cm2). The analysis of the results of the psychofunctional state and quality of life of patients with coronary heart disease showed that there was a decrease in the average score on the depression scales from 3.12 ± 0.37 to 2.28 ± 0.30 and anxiety from 4.66 ± 0.46 to 3.06 ± 0.38 (p < 0.001); positive dynamics of changes in the results of the WAM test (significance level p < 0.001 according to the Wilcoxon criterion, well-being from 4.85 [3.95; 5.83] to 6.30 [5.55; 6.70]; activity from 6.15 [5.03; 6.58] to 6.65 [5.93; 6.90]; mood from 4.50 [3.93; 5.58] to 5.75 [4.93; 6.18]); the level of quality of life revealed a statistically significant increase from 0.84 [0.78; 0.89] to 0.92 [0.85; 1.00] (p < 0.001).

Conclusion. The climatic conditions of the Priozerny Sanatorium are favorable for patients with functional class I and II coronary heart disease. The assessment of winter climate severity indices demonstrates mild, comfortable, and invigorating conditions. The assessment of the psychofunctional status and quality of life of the patients with functional class I and II coronary heart disease receiving health promotion at the health resort revealed the high effectiveness of the treatment, which contributed to the emotional harmonization of patients, significantly reducing the level of situational anxiety and depression, it being an important factor in the prevention of cardiovascular complications.

1. Fesyun A.D. eds. Scientific and practical guide for doctors “Sanatorium-and-spa treatment”. Vol. 1. Fundamentals of sanatorium-and-spa treatment. M., Renovation, 2022, 496 p. (in Russian).

2. Senko V.I., Gоubkin S.V., Tsitkova N.D. et al. Medical and climatic characteristics, mineral waters, and healing peloids of Belarus. Minsk, BSU Publishing Center, 2023, 168 p. (in Russian).

3. Dosin Yu.M., Lovchaya L.V., Pirozhnik I.I. et al. Resorts and health resorts of Belarus. Minsk, Belarusian Encyclopedia named after Petrus Brovka, 2008, 168 p. (in Russian).

4. Razumov A.N. Stages of optimization of the management system of sanatorium-resort complexes and their further development. Problems of Balneology, Physiotherapy and Exercise Therapy. 2017, vol. 94, № 2, pp. 116–119. (in Russian).

5. Razumov A.N. Fundamental and applied aspects of the modern concept of health protection. Russian Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine. 2017, № 1, pp. 3–23 (In Russian).

6. Razumov A.N., Starodubov V.I., Ponomarenko G.N. eds. Sanatorium treatment: national guidelines. M., GEOTAR-Media, 2021;752 p. doi.org/10.33029/9704-6022-1-SKL-2021-1-752 (in Russian).

7. Apanasevich V.V. Physical rehabilitation for ischemic heart disease: a teaching aid. Minsk, BSMU, 2021, 44 p. (in Russian).

8. Gubkin S.V. Clinical medicine and rehabilitation in modern conditions: problems and prospects. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus. Medical series. 2020, vol. 17, № 1, pp. 112–120 (In Russian).

9. Shlyakhto E.V. eds. Cardiology: national guidelines. 2nd ed. M., GEOTAR-Media, 2020, 800 p. (in Russian).

10. Ponomarenko G.N. Physical and rehabilitation medicine: national guidelines. M., GEOTAR-Media, 2016, 688 p. (in Russian).

11. Manshina N.V. Balneology for everyone. To the resort for health. М., Veche, 2007, 592 p. (in Russian).