title: Comprehensive Approach to Lower Blood Pressure (CALM-BP): a randomized controlled trial of a multifactorial lifestyle intervention.
abstract: Complementary medicine advocates the use of a multifactorial approach to address the varied aspects of hypertension. The aim of this study was to compare the blood pressure (BP) effect and medication use of a novel Comprehensive Approach to Lowering Measured Blood Pressure (CALM-BP), based on complementary medicine principles, with the standard recommended Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension (DASH). A total of 113 patients treated with antihypertensive drugs were randomly assigned to either CALM-BP treatment (consisting of rice diet, walks, yoga, relaxation and stress management) or to a DASH+exercise control group (consisting of DASH and walks). Ambulatory 24-h and home BP were monitored over a 16-week programme, followed by 6 months of maintenance period. Medications were reduced if systolic BP dropped below 110 mm Hg accompanied by symptoms. In addition to BP reduction, medications were reduced because of symptomatic hypotension in 70.7% of the CALM-BP group compared with 32.7% in the DASH group, P<0.0001. After 6 months, medication status was not altered in the majority of individuals. Significant reductions in body mass index, cholesterol and improved quality-of-life scores were observed only in the CALM-BP group. Lifestyle and diet modifications based on complementary medicine principles are highly effective with respect to BP control, medication use and cardiovascular risk factors.
authors.affiliation: Shiram Integrated Medicine Unit, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Zerifin, Israel.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ziv
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Vogel
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Keret
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pintov
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bodenstein
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wolkomir
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Doenyas
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mirovski
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Efrati
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D007557:Israel; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015013:Yoga
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose; D008055:Lipids