EFFECT OF MUSIC ON HOME BLOOD PRESSURE SELF-MEASUREMENTS: A PRAGMATIC PILOT CLINICAL TRIAL

Objective: Evidence regarding the effect of music on blood pressure (BP) is limited. The objective is to assess the direct effect of music on ambulatory BP in hypertensive patients. Design and method: Pilot, randomized, controlled, open-label, crossover clinical trial in hypertensive patients treated in primary care. After a baseline visit, patients performed home BP self-monitoring over one week, in two 3-day periods separated by a washout day. The order of the two self-monitoring periods was randomized: 3 days listening to music during self-measurements vs. 3 days in ambient silence. Patients listened to the same music genre throughout the week, chosen according to their personal preferences. BP differences were calculated for each patient by comparing paired data between the two periods. A mixed linear model was used to evaluate the effect of music on BP, considering individual variability and relevant covariates. Approval was obtained from the Ethics Committee of IDIAP Jordi Gol. Results: Forty-five hypertensive patients were included, with a mean age of 65.3 (15.6) years, 57.8% women, 34.1% diabetics, 23.3% with associated vascular disease, 84.1% on antihypertensive treatment, and a mean clinic BP of 131.2 (14.7) /76.9 (11.6) mmHg. The mean home systolic BP (SBP) was 122.1 (12.5) mmHg while listening to music and 121.0 (10.9) mmHg in ambient silence. The mean difference between SBP with music and SBP in silence was 1.53, 95% CI [-0.52, 3.59], p= 0.14. The mean home diastolic BP (DBP) was 74.4 (10.4) mmHg and 73.0 (10.1) mmHg while listening to music or in ambient silence, respectively. The mean difference between DBP with music and DBP in silence was 1.41 mmHg, 95% CI [0.08, 2.73], p= 0.04. Conclusions: Listening to subjectively pleasant music during home BP self-measurement significantly increased DBP, whereas no significant effects were observed on SBP. Future analyses with a larger patient cohort will be necessary to confirm these preliminary findings.