Association of depression with antihypertensive medication adherence in older adults: cross-sectional and longitudinal findings from CoSMO.
BACKGROUND
Little is known about the associations between depressive symptoms, social support and antihypertensive medication adherence in older adults.


OBJECTIVE
We evaluated the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between depressive symptoms, social support and antihypertensive medication adherence in a large cohort of older adults.


METHODS
A cohort of 2,180 older adults with hypertension was administered questionnaires, which included the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale, the Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Index, and the hypertension-specific Morisky Medication Adherence Scale at baseline and 1 year later.


RESULTS
Overall, 14.1% of participants had low medication adherence, 13.0% had depressive symptoms, and 33.9% had low social support. After multivariable adjustment, the odds ratios that participants with depressive symptoms and low social support would have low medication adherence were 1.96 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.43, 2.70) and 1.27 (95% CI 0.98, 1.65), respectively, at baseline and 1.87 (95% CI 1.32, 2.66) and 1.30 (95% CI 0.98, 1.72), respectively, at 1 year follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
Depressive symptoms may be an important modifiable barrier to antihypertensive medication adherence in older adults.
Krousel-Wood
Marie
M
Center for Health Research, Ochsner Clinic Foundation, 1514 Jefferson Highway, New Orleans, LA 70121, USA. mawood@ochsner.org
Islam
Tareq
T
Muntner
Paul
P
Holt
Elizabeth
E
Joyce
Cara
C
Morisky
Donald E
DE
Webber
Larry S
LS
Frohlich
Edward D
ED
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents