Effect of anxiety and depression on blood pressure: 11-year longitudinal population study.
BACKGROUND
The long-term effect of anxiety and depression on blood pressure is unclear.


OBJECTIVE
To examine the prospective association of anxiety and depression with change in blood pressure in a general population.


METHODS
Data on 36 530 men and women aged 20-78 years participating in the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT) in Norway in 1984-86 were re-examined 11 years later.


RESULTS
A high symptom level of anxiety and depression at baseline predicted low systolic blood pressure (< 10th percentile) at follow-up (OR=1.30, 95% CI 1.08-1.57) when those with low systolic blood pressure at baseline were excluded. Change in symptom level of anxiety and depression between baseline and follow-up was inversely associated with change in systolic blood pressure. For diastolic blood pressure, the findings were weaker or non-significant.


CONCLUSIONS
Symptoms of anxiety and depression predicted lower blood pressure 11 years later.
Hildrum
Bjørn
B
Department of Psychiatry, Namsos Hospital, N-7800 Namsos, Norway. bjorn.hildrum@hnt.no
Mykletun
Arnstein
A
Holmen
Jostein
J
Dahl
Alv A
AA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications*; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000209:etiology*; D007022:Hypotension / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway