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RCT of Meditation and Health Education on CIMT and MACE in Black Women and Men

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Cardiovascular Disease
Interventions
Behavioral: Transcendental Meditation technique
Behavioral: didactic health education control
Registration Number
NCT05642936
Lead Sponsor
Maharishi International University
Brief Summary

This was a randomized, single-blind, controlled, community-based trial comparing the clinical efficacy of the Transcendental Meditation program on carotid intima-media thickness and major adverse cardiovascular events in 197 African American men and women at risk for atherosclerotic CVD. After baseline testing, participants were randomly assigned to either a stress reduction program (Transcendental Meditation) or a standard health education program. Follow up was conducted over one year and 12 years.

Detailed Description

This was a randomized, single-blind, controlled, community-based trial comparing the clinical efficacy of the Transcendental Meditation (TM) program carotid intima-media thickness and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in 197 African American men and women at high risk for ASCVD. This trial compared the efficacy of the TM program to health education over one year on cIMT. Eligible participants were randomly allocated to either the TM program or health education (HE). The primary outcome was carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) assessed by B-mode ultrasonography at baseline and 12 months. Secondary outcomes were blood pressure, lipids, lifestyle, psychosocial stress and MACE. Fatal and nonfatal clinical events were assessed over one year, and mortality after 12 years.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
197
Inclusion Criteria

race/ethnicity: African American, self-identified, age: no upper limit, gender: male or female, minimum carotid artery intima medial thickness (IMT) of at least .72 mm for men and .65 mm for women or long-term history of diabetes, myocardial infarction, coronary artery revascularization or coronary angiography indicating at least one vessel with 50% stenosis.

Exclusion Criteria

myocardial infarction, unstable angina, CABG, percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), or stroke within the previous three months, carotid artery endarterectomy, arrhythmia - atrial fibrillation, second or third degree AV block, congestive heart failure - class III or IV or ejection fraction less than 30 %, clinically significant valvular heart disease, clinically significant hepatic or renal failure, major psychiatric disorders, current alcohol or other drug abuse dependency disorder, non-cardiac life-threatening illness, and participating in a formal stress management program

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Transcendental MeditationTranscendental Meditation techniqueThe TM technique is a simple, natural, effortless mental procedure that is practiced 20 minutes twice a day while sitting comfortably with the eyes closed. During the practice, it is reported that ordinary thinking processes settle down, and a distinctive "wakeful hypometabolic" state characterized by neural coherence and physiological rest is gained. The TM technique was taught in a 7-step course of instruction consisting of six 1.5-2 hour individual and group meetings taught by a certified instructor.
Health Educationdidactic health education controlThe control intervention was a cardiovascular health education program designed to match the format of the experimental intervention for instructional time, instructor attention, participant expectancy, social support, and other nonspecific factors. The classroom content was based on standard, published materials. The instructors were professional health educators.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Carotid Intima Medial Thickness (CIMT)12 months

This measure of wall thickness of the carotid artery was assessed by B-mode ultrasonography

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) - fatal12 years

deaths

blood pressurebaseline, 3 and 12 months

systolic and diastolic BP technique. The three readings were taken one minute apart and then averaged for that visit.

lipid profilebaseline and 12 months

blood tests or panel for cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and triglycerides

lifestyle factorsbaseline, 3 and 12 months

diet, exercise and substance use

major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) - fatal and nonfatalone year

adverse clinical events - fatal and non-fatal

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