Efficacy of Siwan Traditional Therapy on Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate, Lipid Profile, and Atherogenic Index as Cardiac Risk Factors Related to Rheumatoid Arthritis

Noha F Mahmoud; Nashwa M Allam; Islam I Omara; Howida A Fouda

doi:10.3390/medicina59010054

Efficacy of Siwan Traditional Therapy on Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate, Lipid Profile, and Atherogenic Index as Cardiac Risk Factors Related to Rheumatoid Arthritis

Medicina (Kaunas). 2022 Dec 27;59(1):54. doi: 10.3390/medicina59010054.

Authors

Noha F Mahmoud¹, Nashwa M Allam², Islam I Omara³, Howida A Fouda⁴

Affiliations

¹ Rehabilitation Sciences Department, Health and Rehabilitation Sciences College, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, Riyadh 11671, Saudi Arabia.
² Orthopedics and Orthopedic Surgery Department, Physical Therapy Faculty, Ahram Canadian University, Giza P.O. Box 12451, Egypt.
³ Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Giza P.O. Box 12613, Egypt.
⁴ Physical Therapy for Internal Diseases Department, Physical Therapy Faculty, October 6 University, Giza P.O. Box 12585, Egypt.

Abstract

Background and Objectives: The most frequent cause of mortality in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients is cardiovascular disease (CVD). Inflammation, dyslipidemia, and decreased physical activity are some of the main risk factors for CVD. Siwan sand therapy is a type of traditional therapy used in Egypt to treat RA. The approach of this therapy depends on the experience of the healers. The aim of the current study was to compare the effects of three sessions of Siwan traditional therapy to five sessions on common CVD risk factors and physical function in rheumatoid arthritis patients. Materials and Methods: Thirty patients (9 male and 21 female) were assigned into two groups of equal size: group (A) received three sessions of Siwan traditional therapy in the form of a sand bath. Group (B) received the same form of therapy for five days. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), lipid profile, atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), and a health assessment questionnaire (HAQ) were measured before and after treatment. Results: There was a significant increase above normal within group (A) for ESR (p = 0.001), triglycerides (TG; p = 0.015), total cholesterol (Tot-Chol; p = 0.0001), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL; p = 0.0001). However, there were no considerable differences in high-density lipoprotein (HDL; p = 0.106), very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL; p = 0.213), AIP (p = 0.648), and HAQ (p = 0.875). For the second group, there were significant changes within group B only in Tot-Chol (p = 0.0001), HDL (p = 0.0001), VLDL (p = 0.0001), AIP (p = 0.008), and HAQ (p = 0.014). There was a significant difference between both groups regarding HDL (p = 0.027), LDL (p = 0.005), AIP (p = 0.029), ESR (p = 0.016), and HAQ (p = 0.036). Conclusions: For RA patients, five days of Siwan traditional therapy caused significant changes regarding inflammation, Tot-Chol, LDL, HDL, AIP, and functional activity when compared to three days of Siwan hot sand therapy.

Keywords: Siwa; Siwan traditional therapy; atherogenic index; cardiac risk factors; lipid profile; physical function; psammotherapy; rheumatoid arthritis.

MeSH terms

Arthritis, Rheumatoid* / complications
Arthritis, Rheumatoid* / drug therapy
Atherosclerosis* / etiology
Blood Sedimentation
Cardiovascular Diseases* / etiology
Cholesterol, HDL
Female
Humans
Inflammation
Lipoproteins, LDL
Male
Risk Factors
Triglycerides

Substances

Triglycerides
Lipoproteins, LDL
Cholesterol, HDL

Grants and funding

grant No. [RGP-1440-0012]/the Deanship of Scientific Research at "Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University through the Research Groups Program"