[Frequency of depression among hypertensive subjects in a primary care clinic].
BACKGROUND
Severe depression and hypertension are two common conditions in the Chilean population. There is a possibility that the coexistence of these diseases is not a coincidence and that hypertension can be pathogenically related to depression.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the frequency of depression among hypertensive subjects consulting in a primary care clinic.


METHODS
Beck depression inventory a sociodemographic survey and a risk scale for depression elaborated by the Chilean Ministry of Health were applied to 442 hypertensive patients consulting in a public primary care clinic.


RESULTS
According to Beck depression inventory score, 53%, 33% and 14% of subjects had a mild, moderate or severe depression, respectively. Most individuals were housewives with incomplete primary education. There was a significant association between depression scores, family Apgar score, mood perception, family violence, alcohol consumption and smoking.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a high frequency of depression among adults with hypertension consulting in a public primary care clinic.
Dois C
Angelina
A
Departamento de Salud del Adulto y Senescente, Escuela de Enfermería, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
Cazenave
Angélica
A
D000368:Aged; D002677:Chile / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011320:Primary Health Care; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric