Effectiveness of Mindfulness Therapy as a Complement to Pharmacological Treatment in the Control of Blood Pressure in Hypertensive Adults: A Quasi-Experimental Study in Lima, Peru.
Edith Chonta-Jaime, Neydi Cortez-Portas, Jorge Eduardo Luján López, Luigi Italo Villena Zapata, Benicio Gonzalo Acosta-Enriquez, Doris Gonzales-Carhuajulca
Public health nursing (Boston, Mass.) January 1, 2025 DOI: 10.1111/phn.13452 via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractMindfulness therapy added to standard medication improved blood pressure control in hypertensive adults. In a quasi-experimental study at a health center in Lima, Peru, 50 adults with hypertension attended eight mindfulness sessions. Average systolic blood pressure fell from 122.8 to 115.0 mm Hg (a 7% reduction), and average diastolic blood pressure fell from 78.1 to 69.9 mm Hg (an 11% reduction). The therapy also helped reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. Mindfulness is an effective complementary approach for managing blood pressure in this population.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Quasi-experimental design with a quantitative and longitudinal cohort approach Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 50 |
| Population | Adults diagnosed with hypertension who regularly attended a health center in Villa El Salvador, Lima, Peru |
| Intervention | Mindfulness therapy |
| Duration | Eight sessions |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Adult Healthy lifestyle Hypertension Vulnerable population |
| Key finding | Mindfulness therapy as an adjunct to pharmacological treatment reduced average systolic blood pressure by 7% and diastolic blood pressure by 11% in hypertensive adults. |
Abstract
To evaluate the effectiveness of mindfulness therapy as an adjunct to pharmacological treatment for improving blood pressure (BP) control in hypertensive adult patients at a health center in Lima, Peru. This study employed a quasi-experimental design with a quantitative and longitudinal cohort approach. The participants included 50 adults who were diagnosed with hypertension and who regularly attended the health center in the Villa El Salvador district of Lima, Peru. The data were collected using three instruments: the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS 21), validated in Peru; a sociodemographic questionnaire; and a BP recording sheet. The Wilcoxon test was utilized to assess the effectiveness of mindfulness therapy on BP control, while the nonparametric Friedman test was used to evaluate the effectiveness of mindfulness therapy considering confounding factors. Therapy resulted in favorable outcomes for BP control. After eight sessions, the average systolic BP decreased from 122.8 to 115.0 mm Hg (a reduction of 7%), and the average diastolic BP decreased from 78.1 to 69.9 mm Hg (a reduction of 11%). Mindfulness is an effective complementary therapy for controlling BP in hypertensive adults. It also helps reduce confounding factors such as stress, anxiety, and depression.