Positive Health Online

Abstract

NAKAO and co-workers, Department of Hygiene and Public Health (EBM Center), School of Medicine, Teikye University, Tokyo, Japan, aaaa-tky@umin.ac.jp, have carried out a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials of biofeedback for the treatment of hypertension.

Background

In order to examine the blood pressure-lowering effects of biofeedback treatment in patients with essential hypertension, a meta-analysis was conducted.

Methodology

22 randomized controlled studies with 905 essential hypertension patients were selected for review.

Results

Compared to non-intervention controls, biofeedback intervention resulted in blood pressure reductions of 7.3 mm Hg for systolic and 5.8 mm Hg for diastolic pressure. Compared to sham or non-specific behavioural interventions, biofeedback reduced blood pressure by even less and no longer statistically significantly. When biofeedback interventions were classified into simple biofeedback and relaxation-assisted biofeedback, it was found that only relaxation-assisted biofeedback had significant effects on patients' blood pressure compared to sham or non-specific behavioural interventions.

Conclusion

The results suggest that biofeedback is more effective in reducing blood pressure than no intervention. However the treatment was only effective compared to sham interventions when combined with relaxation. It remains to be investigated if biofeedback has a significant effect on blood pressure beyond the general relaxation response.

References

Nakao M, Yano E, Nomura S, Kuboki T. Blood pressure-lowering effects of biofeedback treatment in hypertension: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Hypertension Research 26 (1): 37-46, Jan 2003.