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Transcendental meditation and blood pressure

Journal of Human Hypertension volume 30, page 354 (2016)Cite this article

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We read the systematic review and meta-analysis by Bai et al.1 on the effect of transcendental meditation (TM) on blood pressure (BP) with interest. They concluded that TM might decrease both systolic and diastolic BP, and subgroup analyses showed that TM had greater effects on BP reduction in some populations. However, we think that there are some methodological and clinical concerns.

First, many of the studies included were susceptible to attrition bias. The completion rate was lower than 75% in 6 of 11 included studies, as Bai et al. noted in their discussion. A further concern is the incomplete reporting of outcome in these six studies. Only one study reported on all primary and secondary outcomes with intention-to-treat analysis,2 and some others3, 4 reported and analyzed only participants who completed the interventions. One trial did not show the reasons for dropouts.5 If participants who withdrew from the study might not have benefitted by TM, then such a trial might have shown a tendency to favor TM. Thus, a sensitivity analysis by attrition should be considered.

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References

  1. Bai Z, Chang J, Chen C, Li P, Yang K, Chi I . Investigating the effect of transcendental meditation on blood pressure: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Hum Hypertens e-pub ahead of print 12 February 2015.

  2. Schneider RH, Grim CE, Rainforth MV, Kotchen T, Nidich SI, Gaylord-King C et al. Stress reduction in the secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease: randomized, controlled trial of transcendental meditation and health education in Blacks. Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes 2012; 5 (6): 750–758.

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  4. Barnes VA, Treiber FA, Johnson MH . Impact of transcendental meditation on ambulatory blood pressure in African-American adolescents. Am J Hypertens 2004; 17 (4): 366–369.

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  5. Nidich SI, Rainforth MV, Haaga DA, Hagelin J, Salerno JW, Travis F et al. A randomized controlled trial on effects of the Transcendental Meditation program on blood pressure, psychological distress, and coping in young adults. Am J Hypertens 2009; 22 (12): 1326–1331.

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  6. Transcendal Meditation. http://www.tm.org/course-fee Last access on April 15, 2015.

  7. Barnes VA, Treiber FA, Davis H . Impact of Transcendental Meditation on cardiovascular function at rest and during acute stress in adolescents with high normal blood pressure. J Psychosom Res 2001; 51 (4): 597–605.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of- Emergency Medicine, Kurashiki Central Hospital, Okayama, Japan

    S Urushidani

  2. Department of General Medicine, Kurashiki Central Hospital, Okayama, Japan

    A Kuriyama

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  1. S Urushidani
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  2. A Kuriyama
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Correspondence to A Kuriyama.

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The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Urushidani, S., Kuriyama, A. Transcendental meditation and blood pressure. J Hum Hypertens 30, 354 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/jhh.2015.74

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