The Role of Mindfulness Meditation for the Management of Hypertension in African American Adults in the US - A Scoping Review

Abstract

Background:The prevalence of hypertension is greater among African American adults than among individuals in other ethnic groups. Mindfulness, an ancient technique that has been used for thousands of years, is acknowledged as a valuable tool for improving health in various ways. However, despite its traditional wisdom, there remains a gap in understanding the standalone effects of MM on hypertension control. Methods:This review aimed to discuss the role of mindfulness in managing hypertension within the African American adult population in the U.S. PubMed and Scopus were the chosen databases for this exploration. The inclusion criteria comprised papers presenting primary data studies conducted on hypertensive African American patients, specifically reporting on the independent association between mindfulness and hypertension. The exclusion criteria included nonprimary data studies and studies not primarily focused on hypertension or mindfulness. Results:Following our search strategy, we identified a total of 32 studies. Our review incorporated five randomized controlled trials by excluding manuscripts lacking primary data, nonrandomized clinical trials, and duplicates. Within these studies, mindfulness was administered to participants through either prerecorded MP3s or guidance from trained personnel. The observed reduction in blood pressure ranged from 7.2 mmHg to 21.92 mmHg for systolic blood pressure and from null to 7.2 mmHg for diastolic blood pressure across the five studies. Notably, one study showed no change in diastolic blood pressure. Discussion:The outcomes of this review can contribute to clinical practice by offering an evidence-based approach for effective hypertension control through MM. The key findings highlight the positive impact of mindfulness on blood pressure regulation and emphasize the use of prerecorded MP3s or trained guidance as effective mindfulness delivery methods. These insights underscore the potential significance of MM as a cost-efficient and side effect-free approach to hypertension management.