Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Adults with Cardiovascular Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Author: Scott-Sheldon LAJ1,2,3, Gathright EC1,2, Donahue ML1, Balletto B1, Feulner MM1, DeCosta J1, Cruess DG4, Wing RR1,2, Carey MP1,2,3, Salmoirago-Blotcher E1,5,6
Affiliation: <sup>1</sup>Centers for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine, The Miriam Hospital, CORO West, Providence, RI, USA. <sup>2</sup>Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert School of Medicine, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA. <sup>3</sup>Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI, USA. <sup>4</sup>Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA. <sup>5</sup>Department of Medicine, Alpert School of Medicine, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA. <sup>6</sup>Department of Epidemiology, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI, USA.
Conference/Journal: Ann Behav Med.
Date published: 2019 Jun 5
Other: Pages: kaz020 , Special Notes: doi: 10.1093/abm/kaz020. [Epub ahead of print] , Word Count: 235


BACKGROUND: Individuals with cardiovascular disease (CVD) report psychological distress and poor physical functioning and may benefit from mindfulness training.

PURPOSE: To examine the effects of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) on psychological and physiological measures in adults with CVD using meta-analysis.

METHODS: Comprehensive searches identified studies that (a) evaluated MBIs in adults with CVD or who had experienced a cardiac event, (b) included a comparison condition, and (c) assessed psychological (e.g., anxiety and depression) or physiological (e.g., systolic or diastolic blood pressure [BP]) outcomes. Independent raters coded methodological (e.g., design and quality) and intervention features (e.g., intervention content) as potential moderators. Weighted mean effect sizes (d+), using full information maximum likelihood estimation, were calculated.

RESULTS: Of the 1,507 records reviewed, 16 studies met inclusion criteria (N = 1,476; M age = 56 years; 40% women). Compared to controls, participants who received an MBI reported greater improvements in psychological outcomes (i.e., anxiety, depression, distress, and perceived stress: d+s = 0.49 to 0.64). MBI recipients also reduced their systolic (d+ = 0.89, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.26, 1.51; k = 7) but not diastolic (d+ = 0.07, 95% CI = -0.47, 0.60; k = 6) BP relative to controls.

CONCLUSIONS: MBIs demonstrated favorable effects on psychological and physiological outcomes among adults with CVD. Future research should investigate if such benefits lead to improvements in disease outcomes in studies with longer follow-ups.

© Society of Behavioral Medicine 2019. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

KEYWORDS: Adults; Cardiovascular disease; Meta-analysis; Mindfulness; Stress

PMID: 31167026 DOI: 10.1093/abm/kaz020