Effects of Mindfulness-Based Interventions (MBI) on Blood Pressure Among Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

OBJECTIVE: In this study, our aim was to examine the effects of mindfulness-based interventions on blood pressure in adults, with additional exploration of study characteristics, methodological factors, intervention types, and participant demographics as potential moderators of the effect sizes. METHODS: We systematically searched 10 electronic databases for eligible studies from inception to February 2025. We reviewed studies on blood pressure outcomes for adults receiving mindfulness-based intervention based on Buddhist teaching. We only reviewed randomized controlled trials written in English. A random-effects model was used to compute the effect size. We used Funnel plot, Q statistics, and I2 to test the heterogeneity across studies. Also, we examined moderators to explore sources of heterogeneity. RESULTS: Across 21 studies providing 23 between group comparisons (N = 2002), 1045 in mindfulness-based intervention group, and 957 in control groups. Thirty-eight percent of participants were females. Mean age ranged from 20.26 to 72.86 years, with a total mean (SD) age across studies of 50.86 (13.40) years. Overall, mindfulness-based interventions had a large effect on the reduction in systolic blood pressure by -6.320 mm Hg and diastolic blood pressure by -4.091 mm Hg. Funding, intention-to-treat, fidelity of intervention, health condition, and settings were moderators affecting effect sizes. No primary studies reported the adverse effects. CONCLUSION: Mindfulness-based interventions significantly reduced blood pressure in adults. Clinicians and health professionals might consider using mindfulness-based interventions as an alternative complementary treatment for controlling blood pressure.