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Transcendental meditation for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease

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Abstract

Background

A major determinant in cardiovascular disease (CVD) is stress. As transcendental meditation (TM) is thought to help in lowering negative stress indicators, it may be a beneficial strategy for the primary prevention of CVD.

Objectives

To determine the effectiveness of TM for the primary prevention of CVD.

Search methods

We searched the following electronic databases: the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (2013, Issue 10); MEDLINE (Ovid) (1946 to week three November 2013); EMBASE Classic and EMBASE (Ovid) (1947 to week 48 2013); ISI Web of Science (1970 to 28 November 2013); and Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects (DARE) and Health Technology Assessment Database and Health Economics Evaluations Database (November 2013). We also searched the Allied and complementary Medicine Database (AMED) (inception to January 2014) and IndMed (inception to January 2014). We handsearched trial registers and reference lists of reviews and articles and contacted experts in the field. We applied no language restrictions.

Selection criteria

We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of at least three months' duration involving healthy adults or adults at high risk of CVD. Trials examined TM only and the comparison group was no intervention or minimal intervention. We excluded trials that involved multi‐factorial interventions. Outcomes of interest were clinical CVD events (cardiovascular mortality, all‐cause mortality and non‐fatal events) and major CVD risk factors (e.g. blood pressure and blood lipids, occurrence of type 2 diabetes, quality of life, adverse events and costs).

Data collection and analysis

Two authors independently selected trials for inclusion, extracted data and assessed the risk of bias.

Main results

We identified four trials (four papers) (430 participants) for inclusion in this review. We identified no ongoing studies. The included trials were small, short term (three months) and at risk of bias. In all studies, TM was practised for 15 to 20 minutes twice a day.

None of the included studies reported all‐cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality or non‐fatal endpoints as trials were short term, but one study reported survival rate three years after the trial was completed. In view of the considerable statistical heterogeneity between the results of the studies for the only outcomes reported, systolic blood pressure (I2 = 72%) and diastolic blood pressure (I2 = 66%), we decided not to undertake a meta‐analysis. None of the four trials reported blood lipids, occurrence of type 2 diabetes, adverse events, costs or quality of life.

Authors' conclusions

Currently, there are few trials with limited outcomes examining the effectiveness of TM for the primary prevention of CVD. Due to the limited evidence to date, we could draw no conclusions as to the effectiveness of TM for the primary prevention of CVD. There was considerable heterogeneity between trials and the included studies were small, short term and at overall serious risk of bias. More and larger long‐term, high‐quality trials are needed.

PICOs

Population
Intervention
Comparison
Outcome

The PICO model is widely used and taught in evidence-based health care as a strategy for formulating questions and search strategies and for characterizing clinical studies or meta-analyses. PICO stands for four different potential components of a clinical question: Patient, Population or Problem; Intervention; Comparison; Outcome.

See more on using PICO in the Cochrane Handbook.

Plain language summary

Transcendental meditation for the prevention of cardiovascular disease

Background

Cardiovascular disease (CVD), which is a broad term including conditions such as heart attack, angina and stroke, is a global healthcare burden. However, it is thought that CVD risk can be reduced by targeting modifiable risk factors such as stress. One technique used to reduce stress is transcendental meditation (TM). This review assessed the effectiveness of TM in healthy adults and adults at high risk of CVD.

Study characteristics

We searched scientific databases for studies of at least three months' duration involving healthy adults or adults at high risk of CVD. The trials compared TM versus no treatment or minimal treatment. We searched for trials looking at death from CVD, death from all causes, non‐fatal cardiovascular events (e.g. heart attack, angina), blood pressure, blood lipids (blood fats), type 2 diabetes, quality of life, side effects and costs.

Key results

We found only four trials with short follow‐up (three months) that fulfilled our inclusion criteria. These trials were small and at risk of bias, and reported on only one of our outcomes (i.e. blood pressure). In all studies, TM was practised for 15 to 20 minutes twice a day. There were considerable variations between studies, particularly in terms of the participants taking part, which meant we could not pool the data. Due to this, we are not able to draw any conclusions on the effectiveness of TM to date. More and larger, high‐quality, long‐term trials are required in order to establish the effectiveness of TM for preventing CVD.

Quality of the evidence

The results of this review should be treated with caution since the included trials were at unclear risk of bias and small.