Evaluating the Effects of a Mindfulness Intervention on Health Outcomes in Individuals With Hypertension

Hypertension is a major modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease, and effective blood pressure reduction significantly reduces the risk of stroke, myocardial infarction, and heart failure. Current clinical treatment guidelines prioritize lifestyle modification as first-line therapy for a diagnosis of hypertension. The American Heart Association (AHA) has acknowledged mind-body medicine approaches, specifically meditation-based practices, as potential supportive strategies for cardiovascular risk reduction among patients with cardiovascular risk factors and diagnoses. Complementary medicine includes a range of therapies aimed at supporting behavior change, stress reduction, self-management, and overall well-being. However, utilization of these practices remains relatively low among individuals with cardiovascular disease and cardiovascular risk factors, largely due to limited awareness of their potential benefits and practical barriers such as travel requirements and time commitment. The expansion of virtual and app based complementary practices has the potential to address key implementation barriers, including travel burden and scheduling constraints, while supporting scalable and sustained engagement.

Mindfulness-based practices, increasingly offered virtually and via smartphone applications, have shown promise for adults with elevated blood pressure and hypertension. Studies that have implemented mindfulness based interventions, ranging from one to 12 sessions, have reported clinically significant reductions in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, as well as improvements in related psychosocial outcomes such as stress, anxiety, and depression. Emerging evidence suggests that blood pressure improvements are, in part, affected by lifestyle behaviors, including improved dietary choices, medication adherence, and decreased stress.

For over two decades, Mindfulness in Motion (MIM), has been studied as an educational, community-based 8-week program that has shown significant improvements in psychosocial outcomes, such as burnout, stress, and resiliency for healthcare professionals, persons with multiple sclerosis, cancer survivors, inner-city children under economic stress, college students, and community first responders. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of Mindfulness in Motion (MIM), an evidence-based mindfulness intervention delivered virtually and supported by a companion smartphone application, among patients diagnosed with hypertension, compared with usual care. Individual outcomes will be assessed at four time points: baseline, at the conclusion of the 8 week virtual MIM intervention (2 month assessment), at four months following completion of the virtual 8-week intervention (6 month assessment) and again at 10 months following completion of the virtual 8-week intervention (12 month assessment). Individual outcomes will include self report measures of perceived stress, resilience, and sleep. Physiological outcome measures including body mass index (BMI), and systolic and diastolic blood pressure will be collected at baseline and again at the end of the 12-month study period. MIM attendance at the 8-weekly virtual sessions, monthly mindfulness refresher sessions, and MIM app usage, per participant per day and over the 12 month period, will be measured.

Inclusion criteria

• Age >18 years old.
• Established patient at OSU Family Medicine
• Diagnosis of primary essential hypertension
• Ability and willingness to participate in all Mindfulness in Motion (MIM) study activities.
• Ability and willingness to download MyCap, the smartphone app that securely links participant study responses to the REDCap study project.
• WiFi connectivity or LTE to allow use of MIM smartphone app and MyCap when not at OSU clinical site.

Exclusion criteria

• Inability to read and/or understand English (MIM intervention, study consent and questionnaires in English).
• Established mindfulness practice.
• Diagnosis of secondary hypertension with identifiable underlying causes including:

• Chronic kidney disease
• Renal artery stenosis
• Primary aldosteronism
• Cushing's syndrome
• Pheochromocytoma
• Obstructive sleep apnea
• Medication induced hypertension (e.g., steroids, NSAIDs)
• Pregnancy related hypertension
• Current severe alcohol or substance abuse disorder.
• Participants with documented cognitive disorder that limits the ability to independently participate in MIM program, read, understand, and/or complete the surveys; i.e. dementia, Alzheimer's or biological tests.
• Participants with major psychiatric disorders not controlled by medication or other psychiatric treatments.