Effectiveness of mindfulness-based therapy, stress reduction in hypertension and prehypertension: a systematic review

Abstract

Aim. To collect and analyze currently available clinical studies on the effectiveness of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) for lowering blood pressure in individuals with normal, high normal blood pressure and hypertension.Material and methods. The systematic review was prepared according to the PRISMA algorithm with minor modifications. The search algorithm included articles in Russian and English, indexed in the Pubmed/MEDLINE and Cochrane Library databases. The study included studies on the impact of mindfulness interventions on blood pressure levels in individuals aged ≥18 years with an established diagnosis of hypertension, with normal (120-129/80-84 mm Hg) and high normal office blood pressure (130-139/85-89 mm Hg).Results. A total of 4785 publications were identified and included in the study, of which, after a multistage sampling, including screening of articles, 6 studies were included in a qualitative systematic review.Conclusion. Qualitative synthesis of the results of clinical studies revealed that the evidence currently available indicates a possible positive effect of mindfulness interventions on blood pressure levels in individuals with normal, high normal blood pressure and hypertension. However, further studies with larger samples and measurement of more primary and secondary endpoints are required.