Effects of mindfulness meditation on blood pressure and quality of life in patients with intradialytic hypertension during haemodialysis: A randomised controlled trial.

A 12-week mindfulness meditation program lowered blood pressure and improved quality of life in patients with intradialytic hypertension during haemodialysis. In a randomized trial of 69 patients, those who practiced meditation had significantly lower systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial pressures and a lower pulse rate than those receiving standard care. Quality-of-life measures, including physical function, pain, energy, and emotional well-being, improved, but social function did not. Blood levels of homocysteine also decreased. Adverse reactions occurred in 11.76% of the meditation group versus 45.71% of the control group. Mindfulness meditation appears to be a safe, effective non-pharmacological option for managing intradialytic hypertension.

Study at a glance

Abstract

To investigate the effects of mindfulness meditation on blood pressure changes and quality of life in patients with intradialytic hypertension (IDH) during haemodialysis. This single-blind, randomised controlled trial involved 69 patients with IDH undergoing maintenance haemodialysis at Lihuili Hospital in Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, China, between August and December 2024. Patients were randomly assigned to an intervention group (n = 34) receiving mindfulness meditation and a control group (n = 35) receiving standard care. Blood pressure and quality of life were measured at baseline and after 12 weeks. During haemodialysis, the intervention group exhibited significantly lower systolic, diastolic and mean arterial pressures, as well as pulse rate, than the control group (p < 0.001). Quality of life, assessed using the Kidney Disease Quality of Life Short Form 36, improved significantly in the intervention group across multiple dimensions, including physical function, role limitations due to physical problems, bodily pain, general health, energy/fatigue, emotional well-being and sleep (p < 0.05). However, no significant improvement was observed in social function (p > 0.05). Laboratory tests showed a significant reduction in serum homocysteine levels in the intervention group (p < 0.05). The incidence of adverse reactions was significantly lower in the intervention group (11.76 %) than in the control group (45.71 %, p < 0.05). Mindfulness meditation can effectively improve IDH in patients undergoing haemodialysis and substantially enhance their quality of life. As a non-pharmacological intervention, mindfulness meditation is safe and easy to implement, offering a new therapeutic option for patients with IDH. ISRCTN82788940, Registration date: 29/10/2024.