Spiritually Based Interventions for High Blood Pressure: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
Level 1 - systematic review of randomized trials
Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
PubMed 38565834 · doi:10.1007/s10943-024-02034-3
What was done
Authors conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) searched via PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane up to January 1, 2022. Eligible studies evaluated spiritual interventions (including meditation, transcendental meditation, mindfulness meditation, and yoga) on systolic (SBP) or diastolic (DBP) blood pressure in adults (≥ 18 years) published in English or Persian. A random-effects model was used to calculate weighted mean differences (WMD). Twenty-four studies met systematic review criteria, and 23 were included in the meta-analysis.
What was found
- Systolic blood pressure: WMD = -7.63 mmHg (95% CI: -9.61 to -5.65, P < 0.001; 15 trials) with extreme heterogeneity (I² = 96.9%, P < 0.001). - Diastolic blood pressure: WMD = -4.75 mmHg (95% CI: -6.45 to -3.05, P < 0.001; 13 trials).
Why it matters
Practices classified as spiritually based, such as meditation and yoga, demonstrate statistically significant reductions in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure, supporting their use as non-pharmacologic lifestyle strategies.
Limits
Statistical heterogeneity was extremely high (I² = 96.9% for SBP). Language restrictions were limited to English and Persian. The broad categorization of distinct practices (transcendental meditation, mindfulness, yoga) under 'spiritual interventions' limits specific conclusions. Total participant count, control group details, risk of bias, and adverse effects were not reported in the abstract.