Stress Reduction in the Prevention of Left Ventricular Hypertrophy: A Randomized Controlled Trial of Transcendental Meditation and Health Education in Hypertensive African Americans

Background: African Americans have disproportionately high rates of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is an independent risk factor for CVD and may contribute to this disparity. Psychological stress contributes to LVH in African Americans and other populations.

Objective: This study evaluated the effects of stress reduction with the Transcendental Meditation (TM) technique on preventing LVH in African American adults with hypertension.

Setting: Martin Luther King Hospital - Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, CA.

Method: In this trial, 85 African American adults (average 52.8 years) were randomly assigned to either TM program or health education (HE) control group and completed posttesting. Participants were tested at baseline and after six months for left ventricular mass index (LVMI) by M-mode echocardiography, blood pressure, psychosocial stress and behavioral factors. Change in outcomes was analyzed between groups by ANCOVA and within groups by paired t-test.

Results: The TM group had significantly lower LVMI compared with the HE group (-7.55gm/m, 95% CI -14.78 to -.34 gm/m, P=.040). Both interventions showed significant within group reductions in BP, (SBP/DBP changes for TM: -5/ -3 mm Hg, and for HE: -7/-6 mm Hg, P=.028 to <.001) although between group changes were not significant. In addition, both groups showed significant reductions in anger (P=.002 to .001). There were no other changes in lifestyle factors.

Conclusions: These findings indicate that stress reduction with TM was effective in preventing LVMI progression and thus may prevent LVH and associated CVD in high-risk African American patients.