The impact of mindfulness meditation on pro-inflammatory biomarkers in patients with end-stage renal disease: A randomized trial.

Background and aim: Mindfulness meditation has been inadequately used in patients with end-stage renal disease although it has been effective in reducing pro-inflammatory biomarkers in patients with chronic illnesses. Thus, this study examined mindfulness meditation effect on pro-inflammatory biomarkers and C-reactive protein in patients with end-stage renal disease.

Materials and methods: Repeated measures, randomized, control experimental design was used. A convenience sampling technique was used to select the sample from a hospital located in northern Jordan. The participants were randomly distributed into experimental (n = 31) and control (n = 31) groups. During hemodialysis sessions, the group of experiment participants practiced 30 min of the Attentional behavioral cognitive theory version of mindfulness meditation; 3 times a week for 8 weeks). The inflammatory biomarkers including C-reactive protein, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and interleukine-6 were measured by collecting peripheral blood through venipuncture. These biomarkers were analyzed using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) protocol after 5 weeks of the intervention, and at its end (8 weeks). An Excel sheet was used to collect data for participants.

Results: Compared to the control condition, mindfulness meditation led to statistically significant reductions in C-reactive protein and tumor necrosis factor over time but a nonsignificant effect on interleukine-6.

Conclusion: Study's results support the evidence-based practice recommendation of adding mindfulness meditation as a complementary treatment to the nurse's care plans for patients with end-stage renal disease.

Trial registration: Clinical trial.gov; ID: NCT06064708; Date: 09/26/2023.