http://sctr.musc.edu843-792-8300

Smartphone Delivered Meditation for Blood Pressure Control Among Prehypertensives:

A Pilot Feasibility Clinical Trial

SubtitlePresenters

Date

Mathew Gregoski, Ph.D. Frank A. Treiber, Ph.D. (MUSC)Alexey Vertegel, Ph.D. Aleksey Shaporev, Ph.D. (Clemson)

S.C. Smart State Technology Applications Center for Healthful Lifestyles (TACHL)

MUSC Colleges of Nursing & MedicinePresented at: Verizon Wireless Health Technology Initiative Meeting, Nov. 15, 2011,

Charleston, S.C.

Content• Content

http://sctr.musc.edu843-792-8300

Rationale:• Essential hypertension (EH) impacts 33% of US adults, higher

prevalence among African Americans (AAs).• EH is a significant risk factor for CVD, heart attack, stroke, renal

failure.• Leading predictor of EH is preEH (SBP/DBP 121-139/81-89

mmHg)• Sustainable/easily disseminated prevention programs needed• Breathing meditation shown to reduce BP among EH and

preEH AA patients • Smartphones enable large-scale/easy dissemination

http://sctr.musc.edu843-792-8300

Proof of Concept Study Design and Methods

Subjects: 3 adult prehypertensives (SBP > 120 mmHg)

Procedures:Received Tension Tamer, asked to practice 10 minute sessions 2x a day for 3-monthsMeasures collected at preintervention 1, 2, and 3 months:

-Resting Hemodynamics and 24-Hour Ambulatory BP-Overnight Urine Sample-Awakening response saliva sampling

Approximately $450.00.Power drain from Bluetooth data transfer.Easy to lose.

Content• Content

TENSION TAMER

http://sctr.musc.edu843-792-8300

Presented by the COLLEGES of NURSING

and MEDICINE

Welcome to

Tension TamerIntroduction to Tension Tamer

Teach Me to Meditate

Go Directly to Meditation

http://sctr.musc.edu843-792-8300

Proof of Concept Results

Reductions in Salivary Alpha-Amylase awaking curve (Marker of SNS activity) from pre to post 3 month intervention.

Dose-Response Reductions in 24 hour Ambulatory Blood Pressure. Reductions corresponded with Tension Tamer Adherence rates.

24-Hour SBP as a function of adherence

http://sctr.musc.edu843-792-8300

Future Pilot Feasibility Study Design and Methods

Subjects: 30 stage 2 preEH adults (SBP 130-139 mmHg)

Procedures:Random assignment to Tension Tamer or standard of care 3 monthsMeasures collected at preintervention 1, 2, and 3 months:

-Resting Hemodynamics and 24-Hour Ambulatory BP-Overnight Urine Sample-Repeated saliva sampling