Table 1. Demographic and baseline characteristics by treatment group.
| Variables | Transcendental Meditation Group, n=41 | Health Education Group, n=44 | Comparison between the group |
| Mean (SD) | Mean (SD | P | |
| Age, years | 53.3 (9.431) | 52.27 (11.069) | .619 |
| Females | 29 (70.73%) | 26(59.09%) | .791 |
| Married | 13(34.2%) | 18(43.9%) | .490 |
| Educated up to high school level | 6(15.8%) | 4(9.5%) | .505 |
| Annual income <$20,000 | 12(31.6%) | 12(28.6%) | .811 |
| Weight, kg | 88.12(14.98) | 93.62(19.39) | .149 |
| BMI, kg/m2 | 30.29(4.63) | 32.17(7.29) | .164 |
| On antihypertensive drugs | 29(70.7%) | 30(68.2%) | .818 |
| Class of antihypertensive medicationa | ACE I or ARB=6, CCB=4, Diuretic=5, β-blocker=2, α blocker=1 | ACE I or ARB =3, CCB=4, Diuretic=3, β-blocker=2, α blocker=2 | .926 |
| LVM, gm | 170.79(45.47) | 175.92(55.11) | .642 |
| LVMI, g/m2 | 85.96(21.40) | 86.350(24.434) | .938 |
| SBP, mm Hg | 144.64(12.317) | 149.40(12.436) | .082 |
| DBP, mm Hg | 83.61(8.840) | 87.24(12.316) | .128 |
| MAP, mm Hg | 104.207(7.529) | 108.204(9.697) | .039 |
| Pulse, bpm | 76.81(11.084) | 76.13(11.655) | .783 |
| Exercise, hours/week | 6.602(4.486) | 7.716(4.367) | .278 |
| Smoke, cigarettes/day | .65 (3.278) | .93 (4.212) | .734 |
| Anger-in scores | 2.502(.900) | 2.521(.929) | .923 |
| Anger-out scores | 2.2103(.51006) | 2.244(.505) | .760 |
| Perceived stress scores | .6189(.126) | .635(.147) | .581 |
| Personal efficiency scores | 2.187(.790) | 2.244(.895) | .761 |
| Self-esteem scores | 7.280(1.199) | 7.272(1.10) | .977 |
BMI, body mass index; ACE I, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor; ARB; angiotensin receptor blocker; CCB, calcium channel blocker; bpm, beats/-minute; DBP, diastolic blood pressure; LVM, left ventricle mass; LVMI, left ventricle mass index; MAP, mean arterial pressure; SBP, systolic blood pressure; SD, standard deviation.
a. Out of available record of n=31 patients on antihypertensive medication.