Relationship between low blood pressure and depressive symptomatology in older people.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if low blood pressure is associated with a definable constellation of somatic and psychological symptoms in older persons.


METHODS
A population-based study.


METHODS
In-home interviews in five southwestern states.


METHODS
A total of 2723 Mexican Americans aged 65 or older not living in institutions.


METHODS
Blood pressure, Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), global self-rating of health, and self-esteem.


RESULTS
Bivariate analyses indicate a significant relationship between low blood pressure and increased depressive symptomatology; for example, systolic hypotensive subjects scored a CES-D mean of 12.07 +/- .67 compared to 8.99 +/- .95 for normotensives (P < .01). Regression analyses supported these findings when controlling for confounders such as gender, age, and use of antihypertensive medications. Subjects with low blood pressure also scored lower on self-esteem and global self-reported health and reported more days waking up feeling tired.


CONCLUSIONS
These data support the existence of a relationship between low blood pressure and higher levels of depressive symptomatology as well as a constellation of somatic and psychosocial symptoms.
Stroup-Benham
C A
CA
Center on Aging, and Department of Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston 77555-0664, USA.
Markides
K S
KS
Black
S A
SA
Goodwin
J S
JS
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007022:Hypotension / Q000150:complications* / Q000208:ethnology*; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D017058:Mexican Americans / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012044:Regression Analysis; D015206:Southwestern United States / Q000453:epidemiology
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents