title: Music therapy effects on the quality of life and the blood pressure of hypertensive patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Arterial Hypertension (AH) is a mass disease, with consequences for the cardiocirculatory system, since its complications raise the rates of morbidity and mortality. Controlling blood pressure (BP) reduces complications and may preserve the quality of life (QOL) of patients. Studies show positive effects of music therapy as an adjuvant in the treatment of several diseases.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  to evaluate the effect of music therapy on the QOL and BP control of hypertensive patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a controlled clinical study that evaluated patients of both genders, aged over 50 years, with stage 1 hypertension, in use of medication and enrolled in multidisciplinary service for treatment of hypertension. They were divided into an experimental group (EG) and a control group (CG). The EG, in addition to the conventional treatment, participated in weekly music therapy sessions for twelve weeks. The CG received the standard treatment of the service. Before and after the intervention, the SF-36 questionnaire was applied in both groups, and the BP of each patient was measured. The voice, an important element of communication, reflecting the patient's physical, mental and emotional state, was the main resource used.
  
  
  METHODS
  Student T-test and Wilcoxon test were considered significant at p <0.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The groups were initially similar in gender, age, education, and the assessed QOL. In the initial and final comparison of EG patients, we observed a significant improvement on the QOL (p <0.05) and BP control (p <0.05), with no change in adhesion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Music therapy has contributed to an improvement on the QOL and BP control of patients, suggesting that this activity may represent a therapeutic approach to help strengthen the programs of multidisciplinary care of hypertensive patients.
authors.affiliation: Liga de Hipertensão Arterial, Hospital das Clínicas, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, Brasil. mtclaudiazanini@gmail.com
authors.forename: Claudia Regina de Oliveira
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Zanini
authors.forename: Paulo César Brandão Veiga
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Jardim
authors.forename: Claudia Maria
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Salgado
authors.forename: Mariana Cabral
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Nunes
authors.forename: Fabrícia Lanusse de
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Urzêda
authors.forename: Marta Valéria Catalayud
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.forename: Dalma Alves
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: Thiago de Souza Veiga
authors.initials: Tde S
authors.lastname: Jardim
authors.forename: Weimar Kunz Sebba Barroso de
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Souza
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D009147:Music Therapy / Q000592:standards*; D011788:Quality of Life; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016896:Treatment Outcome