Review Article

Mind-Body Therapies for African-American Women at Risk for Cardiometabolic Disease: A Systematic Review

Table 1

Characteristics of included studies.

ReferencesDesignMean age, sample size, Metabolic syndrome-related conditionIntervention-treatment regimenMain outcome measuresMain resultsComments

Bernstein et al. 2014 [31]RCTMean age = 56
Sample size = 27
Prediabetes
Low-intensity exercise; mindfulness; relaxation techniques: meditation and guided imageryWeight/BMI; HbA1c; waist circumference, blood pressure, CRP, fasting insulin; PSS, physical activityNo significant treatment effect of the lifestyle intervention on weight (0.3 kg; 95% CI: −1.4 to 2.0 kg, ), BMI (0.1 units; 95% CI: −0.5 to 0.8 units, ), or HbA1c (0.0%; 95% CI: −0.1 to 0.1%, ) or other measures92% class attendance; trends towards improvement in healthy eating and cooking habits were seen

Cox et al. 2013 [32]RCTMean age = 44.5
Sample size = 44
Obesity/moderate-to-high stress levels
Diabetes prevention program + guided relaxation; diaphragmatic breathing; mindfulnessWeight loss; stress-PSS; stress-salivary cortisolStronger positive association between group attendance and weight loss in the treatment group (); trend towards greater reductions in salivary cortisol in the treatment group (); no difference in PSS86% retention rates; weight loss associated with total sessions attended () and total self-monitoring diaries submitted ()

Jefferson 2010 [33]RCTMean age = 52.9
Sample size = 68
Hypertension
Therapeutic chair massage; patient-taught diaphragmatic breathingBlood pressure; anxiety-STAI; stress-PSSSignificant differences in systolic blood pressure (), diastolic blood pressure (), STAI ()No significant differences in PSS between the massage groups (6-week, ; 1-week, ) and breathing groups 6-week, ; 1-week, )

Webb et al. 2000 [34]RCTMean age = 33.5
Sample size = 43
Hypertension
Seven-muscle group progressive relaxationBlood pressure; Physical, Interpersonal, Psychological Strain scoresWithin-subjects changes over time in interpersonal strain scores ( = 18.00, ) and physical strain scores ( = 15.44, ); psychological strain within subjects ( = 12.20, )Between-groups interactions greater reductions in interpersonal strain ( = 3.28, and physical strain ( = 4.98, ).

Young and Stewart 2006 [35]Cluster
RCT
Mean age = 48.3
Sample size = 196
Physical inactivity
Alternating weekly low-intensity stretching classes and health educationBlood pressure; cholesterol-HDL-CExercise participants attended an average of 21.6% of classes, whereas the stretch and health participants attended an average of 31.5% of classes ().Participants who did not return for follow-up were younger than those who did return (47.3 ± 8.7 versus 51.1 ± 9.6, ).

RCT: randomized controlled trial; PSS: Cohen’s Perceived Stress Scale; STAI: State Trait Anxiety Inventory; HDL-C: high density lipoprotein-cholesterol.