Journal Article

Effect of mindfulness-based meditation on blood pressure among adults with elevated blood pressure and hypertension: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials

Mir, Imtiyaz Ali, Chong, Teng Fung, John, Anil T., Manan, Hanani Abdul, Khan, Qamer Iqbal, Humayra, Syeda

2024

Overview

Hypertension is a leading contributor to cardiovascular disorders globally. There has been a recent upsurge in non-pharmacological management involving mindfulness-based meditation (MBM) in lowering blood pressure (BP) among the hypertensive population; however, the level of supportive evidence among patients primarily diagnosed with hypertension remain limited. Therefore, this systematic review aimed to synthesize the evidence of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the effect of MBM on BP explicitly in adults primarily diagnosed with elevated blood pressure or hypertension. A database search of RCTs was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Web of Science until December 2023. The effect size score was calculated for variables of interest followed by qualitative analysis. Nine studies with 543 participants (mean age 54.9±9.0) met the pre-specified eligibility criteria. Eight trials reported MBM convincing in lowering the systolic BP (p=0.001–0.020) and 6 in reducing the diastolic BP (p=0.001–0.01) among this target population. There was a disparity of gender in 7 studies and 4 trials did not report the ethnicity of participants. The methodological quality of the trials was gratifying, however, most studies presented with absence of allocation concealment and blinding of outcome assessors, fragmentary reporting of data, and high attrition rate that potentially affected the validity of trials. MBM interventions may serve as an early preventive and supportive measure for adults with elevated BP or hypertension. However, more robust and rigorous trials with a larger, homogeneous sample and long-term follow-up are necessary to quantify the magnitude of this intervention. Moreover, the methodological issues may affect the overall quality and reliability of MBM interventions; hence, future studies must also address the risk of bias due to inadequate blinding and high attrition through treatment concealment and personalized engagement measures. •MBM is beneficial in lowering both SBP and DBP among adults with elevated BP or hypertension.•Eight studies reported MBM to be helpful in reducing SBP and 7 trials indicated MBM useful in alleviating DBP.•Trials examining the effect of MBM exhibited a noticeable selection and publication bias.•Limitations included a small sample size, discrepancies in type, duration, and dosage of MBM and lack of long-term follow-up.

• Publisher: Elsevier Ltd,Elsevier Limited,Elsevier
• Subject: Adults / Antihypertensives / Blood pressure / Blood Pressure - physiology / Boolean / Cardiovascular disease / Citation management software / Clinical trials / Data collection / Heart failure / Humans / Hypertension / Hypertension - therapy / Intervention / Lifestyles / Meditation / Mindfulness / Mindfulness - methods / Mindfulness-based meditation, Mindfulness-based stress reduction, Randomized controlled trials / Population studies / Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / Stress / Stroke / Systematic review