Depression's Effect on Blood Pressure
SAN ANTONIO (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- A new study shows depressed people are more likely to have high blood pressure.
Researchers from Mexico City evaluated 31 hypertensive patients. The patients measured their own blood pressure for three days. They were also given a questionnaire to determine if they suffered from depression.
Results of the study show 13 patients with poor blood pressure control had high scores for depression; eight patients with poor blood pressure control did not suffer depression; one patient with hypertension had depression; and nine patients with good blood pressure had no depression.
Researchers cannot identify the exact cause for the link between high blood pressure and depression. However, Alberto F. Rubio, M.D., of the Hospital General de Ticoman, Mexico City, says, "Depressed patients may also have poorly controlled blood pressure because they have lost interest in taking their medication."
Dr. Rubio-Guerra says larger studies are needed to examine depression in hypertensive patients to determine if therapy can improve blood pressure control.
High blood pressure means a person has a systolic pressure (the top number of a reading) of 140 or higher, or a diastolic pressure (the bottom number of a reading) of 90 or higher. High blood pressure affects one in five Americans and increases a person's risk of heart disease and stroke.
Researchers say this study helps doctors identify patients at-risk for high blood pressure. Dr. Rubio-Guerra says, "Screening for depression in hypertensive patients may be an easy and cost-effective tool to improve outcomes."
SOURCE: The XVth Scientific Meeting of the Inter-American Society of Hypertension in San Antonio, April 27-30, 2003
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