Effect of Adapted Mindfulness Training in Participants With Elevated Office Blood Pressure: The MB-BP Study: A Randomized Clinical Trial.
Eric B Loucks, Zev Schuman-Olivier, Frances B Saadeh, Matthew M Scarpaci, William Nardi, Jeffrey Proulx, Roee Gutman, Jean A. King, Willoughby B. Britton, Ian M Kronish
Journal of the American Heart Association May 23, 2023 DOI: 10.1161/jaha.122.028712 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 201 |
| Population | Adults with elevated unattended office blood pressure (at least 120/80 mm Hg); 58.7% women, 81.1% non-Hispanic White, mean age 59.5 years |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-Based Blood Pressure Reduction (MB-BP) |
| Duration | 6-month follow-up |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Humans Cardiovascular diseases Hypertension Antihypertensive agents Diet Blood pressure Middle aged Female Randomized clinical trial |
| Registration | NCT03256890 NCT03859076 |
| Key findings | A mindfulness-based program adapted for elevated blood pressure reduced unattended office systolic blood pressure by 5.9 mm Hg from baseline at 6 months and outperformed enhanced usual care by 4.5 mm Hg. The authors conclude the program showed clinically relevant reductions and suggest mindfulness training may be a useful approach to improve blood pressure. |
Abstract
Background: Hypertension is a leading risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Despite availability of effective lifestyle and medication treatments, blood pressure (BP) is poorly controlled in the United States. Mindfulness training may offer a novel approach to improve BP control. The objective was to evaluate the effects of Mindfulness-Based Blood Pressure Reduction (MB-BP) versus enhanced usual care control on unattended office systolic BP. Methods and Results Methods included a parallel-group phase 2 randomized clinical trial conducted from June 2017 to November 2020. Follow-up time was 6 months. Outcome assessors and data analyst were blinded to group allocation. Participants had elevated unattended office BP (≥120/80 mm Hg). We randomized 201 participants to MB-BP (n=101) or enhanced usual care control (n=100). MB-BP is a mindfulness-based program adapted for elevated BP. Loss-to-follow-up was 17.4%. The primary outcome was change in unattended office systolic BP at 6 months. A total of 201 participants (58.7% women; 81.1% non-Hispanic White race and ethnicity; mean age, 59.5 years) were randomized. Results showed that MB-BP was associated with a 5.9-mm Hg reduction (95% CI, -9.1 to -2.8 mm Hg) in systolic BP from baseline and outperformed the control group by 4.5 mm Hg at 6 months (95% CI, -9.0 to -0.1 mm Hg) in prespecified analyses. Plausible mechanisms with evidence to be impacted by MB-BP versus control were sedentary activity (-350.8 sitting min/wk [95% CI, -636.5 to -65.1] sitting min/wk), Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension diet (0.32 score [95% CI, -0.04 to 0.67]), and mindfulness (7.3 score [95% CI, 3.0-11.6]).
Conclusions: A mindfulness-based program adapted for individuals with elevated BP showed clinically relevant reductions in systolic BP compared with enhanced usual care. Mindfulness training may be a useful approach to improve BP.
Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifiers: NCT03256890 and NCT03859076.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation Healthy employees in a work environment | 2003 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 41 |
| Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2000 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 145 |
| Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Working adults | 2008 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 139 |
| Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation Undergraduate Chinese students | 2007 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 40 |
| Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: Replication and Exploration of Differential Relapse Prevention Effects. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2004 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 73 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 7
- Change starts with the body: Interoceptive appreciation mediates the effect of mindfulness training on behavior change - an effect moderated by depression severity. Psychiatry Research December 1, 2024
- Effectiveness of physical activity, mindfulness and mind-body therapies in improving mental health of university students: a systematic review of RCTS. Journal of American College Health April 22, 2025
- Meditation Practice and Long-Term Mortality in US Adults: A Doubly Robust Analysis of Pooled National Health Interview Survey Cohorts with a Trial-Informed Bayesian Subgroup Analysis medRxiv September 20, 2026
- Mindfulness as an intervention to lower blood pressure. Journal of Human Hypertension August 6, 2026
- Feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of mindfulness-based stress reduction program on patients with nocturnal hypertension: a pilot randomized controlled trial. Clin Hypertens July 1, 2026
and 2 more in the library
Cites 8
- Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Assessment January 27, 2006
- Effectiveness of a meditation-based stress reduction program in the treatment of anxiety disorders American Journal of Psychiatry July 1, 1992
- Beyond the individual: Group effects in mindfulness-based stress reduction Psychotherapy Research September 12, 2008
- Mindfulness-Based Blood Pressure Reduction (MB-BP): Stage 1 single-arm clinical trial PLoS One November 27, 2019
- Mindfulness-Based Programs: Why, When, and How to Adapt? Global Advances in Health and Medicine 2022
and 3 more in the library