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Association of blood pressure with anxiety and depression in a sample of primary care patients

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 March 2020

A. Sacchetti
Affiliation:
University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Diagnostic-Clinical and Public Health Medicine, Modena, Italy
G. Mattei
Affiliation:
University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Diagnostic-Clinical and Public Health Medicine, Modena, Italy Association for Research in Psychiatry, Castelnuovo Rangone, Italy
S. Bursi
Affiliation:
Association for Research in Psychiatry, Castelnuovo Rangone, Italy
M.S. Padula
Affiliation:
University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Department of Biomedical-Metabolic and Neural Sciences, Modena, Italy Società Italiana di Medicina Generale, Firenze, Italy Local Health Agency, Department of Primary Care, Modena, Italy
G. Rioli
Affiliation:
University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Diagnostic-Clinical and Public Health Medicine, Modena, Italy
S. Ferrari
Affiliation:
University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Diagnostic-Clinical and Public Health Medicine, Modena, Italy

Abstract

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Introduction

According to international scientific literature, and as summarized in the guidelines of the International Society of Hypertension, lowering of blood pressure can prevent cardiovascular accidents. Some studies suggest that hypertension, anxiety, and depression might be inversely correlated.

Objective

To investigate whether blood pressure is associated with anxiety and depression.

Methods

Cross-sectional design. Male and female primary care patients were enrolled, aged 40–80. Criteria of exclusion adopted: use of antidepressants or antipsychotics; previous major cardiovascular event; psychosis or major depression; Type 1-DM; pregnancy and hereditary disease associated to obesity. Anxiety and depression symptoms were assessed using HADS. Waist circumference, hip circumference, blood pressure, HDL, triglycerides, blood sugar, hypertension, albumin concentrations and serum iron were also assessed.

Results

Of the 210 subjects, 84 were men (40%), mean age was 60.88 (SD ± 10.88). Hypertension was found to correlate significantly to anxiety (OR = 0.38; 95% CI = 0.17–0.84), older age (OR = 3.96; 95% CI = 1.88–8.32), cigarette smoking (OR = 0.35; 95%CI = 0.13–0.94), high Body Mass Index (OR = 2.50; 95% CI = 1.24–5.01), Waist-hip ratio (OR = 0.09; 95% CI = 0.02–0.46) and the Index of comorbidity (OR = 16.93; 95% CI = 3.71–77.29).

Conclusions

An inverse association was found between anxiety and hypertension, suggesting the need to clinically manage these two dimensions in a coordinated way. Other findings are well known and already included in prevention campaigns. Further research is needed, also to better understand and explain the causative pathways of this correlation.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Type
e-Poster viewing: Consultation liaison psychiatry and psychosomatics
Copyright
Copyright © European Psychiatric Association 2017
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