Randomized controlled trial of stress reduction with meditation and health education in black men and women with high normal and normal blood pressure.

backgroundBlack men and women suffer from disparities in morbidity and mortality from hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and currently, COVID-19. These conditions are associated with social determinants of health and psychosocial stress. While previous trials demonstrated that stress reduction with meditation lowered BP in the grade I range in Black adults, there is a paucity of evidence for high normal and normal BP.

objectiveThis randomized controlled trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of stress reduction with the Transcendental Meditation (TM) technique in Black adults with high normal BP and normal BP using international classifications.

methodsA total of 304 Black men and women with high normal (130-139/85-89 mm Hg) and normal BP (120-129/80-84 mm Hg) were randomized to either TM or health education (HE) groups. BP was recorded at 3, 6, 9, 12, 24, 30 and 36 months after baseline. Linear mixed model analysis was conducted to compare the BP change between TM and HE participants in the high-normal BP and normal-BP groups. Survival analysis for hypertensive events was conducted.

resultsAfter an average of 19.9 ± 11.1 months follow-up, TM participants in the high-normal BP group showed significantly lower posttest SBP (-3.33 mm Hg,

conclusionThis RCT found that meditation lowered systolic BP in Black men and women with high normal BP but not in normal BP participants. These results may be relevant to reducing health disparities in CVD and related co-morbidities.