title: Effect of anxiety and depression on blood pressure: 11-year longitudinal population study.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Namsos Hospital, N-7800 Namsos, Norway. bjorn.hildrum@hnt.no
authors.forename: Bjørn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hildrum
authors.forename: Arnstein
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mykletun
authors.forename: Jostein
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Holmen
authors.forename: Alv A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Dahl
mesh_terms: 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