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Study H-01

The Transcendental Meditation Programme and
Reduction in Cardiovascular Disease Risk

1. Citation

Schneider RH, Grim CE, Rainforth MV, et al.

Stress Reduction in the Secondary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease: Randomised Controlled Trial.

Published in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.

2012

Reference Information

Journal: Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes
Year: 2012
Study Code: H-01
DOI: 10.1161/CIRCOUTCOMES.112.967406
Level of Evidence: Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT)
Peer Reviewed: Yes

2. Research Question

Can regular practice of the Transcendental Meditation technique reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events in people already suffering from coronary heart disease?

3. Participants

  • 201 African American men and women
  • Existing coronary heart disease
  • Average follow-up approximately 5.4 years
  • Randomly assigned to either:
    • Transcendental Meditation
    • Health education control group

4. Method

Participants learned either:

  • the Transcendental Meditation technique

or

  • conventional health education.

Researchers followed both groups for over five years, measuring major cardiovascular outcomes including:

  • heart attack
  • stroke
  • death

along with blood pressure and psychological stress.

5. Key Findings

Researchers reported that participants practising TM experienced approximately:

  • 48% reduction in the combined risk of heart attack, stroke and death compared with controls.
  • Significant reductions in blood pressure.
  • Reduced psychological stress.
  • Better emotional wellbeing.

Greater regularity of meditation was associated with better outcomes.

6. Practical Implications

This study suggests that reducing chronic stress may play an important role in protecting cardiovascular health.

TM may therefore complement conventional medical treatment by helping patients reduce one of the recognised contributors to cardiovascular disease.

Importantly, TM was used alongside normal medical care, not as a replacement for it.

7. Strengths and Limitations

Strengths

✓ Randomised controlled trial.

✓ More than five years of follow-up.

✓ Published in a leading peer-reviewed cardiovascular journal.

✓ Measured real clinical outcomes rather than questionnaires alone.

Limitations

  • Participants already had coronary heart disease.
  • Results cannot automatically be generalised to healthy adults or athletes.
  • Larger multi-centre studies would strengthen the evidence further.

8. Related Topics

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