Major depression as a risk factor for high blood pressure: epidemiologic evidence from a national longitudinal study.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether major depression (MD) leads to an increased risk of new-onset high blood pressure diagnoses.


METHODS
The data source was the Canadian National Population Health Survey (NPHS). The NPHS included a short-form version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI-SF) to assess MD and collected self-report data about professionally diagnosed high blood pressure and the use of antihypertensive medications. The analysis included 12,270 respondents who did not report high blood pressure or the use of antihypertensive medications at a baseline interview conducted in 1994. Proportional hazards models were used to compare the incidence of high blood pressure in respondents with and without MD during 10 years of subsequent follow-up.


RESULTS
After adjustment for age, the risk of developing high blood pressure was elevated in those with MD. The hazard ratio was 1.6 (95% Confidence Interval = 1.2-2.1), p = .001, indicating a 60% increase in risk. Adjustment for additional covariates did not alter the association.


CONCLUSIONS
MD may be a risk factor for new-onset high blood pressure. Epidemiologic data cannot definitely confirm a causal role, and the association may be due to shared etiologic factors. However, the increased risk may warrant closer monitoring of blood pressure in people with depressive disorders.
Patten
Scott B
SB
Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada. patten@ucalgary.ca
Williams
Jeanne V A
JV
Lavorato
Dina H
DH
Campbell
Norman R C
NR
Eliasziw
Michael
M
Campbell
Tavis S
TS
D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology