title: Depression increases the risk for uncontrolled hypertension.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Because hypertension and depression share common pathways, it is possible that each disease has an impact on the natural history of the other.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determinate whether depression influences blood pressure control in hypertensive patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty hypertensive patients undergoing antihypertensive treatment, excluding beta-blockers and central-acting agents, self-measured their blood pressure several times a day for three days using a validated, commercially available device. All patients also completed the Zung Self-rating Depression Scale survey for depression. Associations between the results of the blood pressure and depression tests were determined using the Spearman correlation coefficient; RR was also measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 40 patients, 23 were depressed, and 21 of these 23 had poor control of their blood pressure. The RR for uncontrolled hypertension in depressed patients was 15.5. A significant correlation between systolic (r=0.713) and diastolic (r=0.52) blood pressure values and depression was found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Depression is common in patients with uncontrolled hypertension and may interfere with blood pressure control. Screening for depression in hypertensive patients is a simple and cost-effective tool that may improve outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Metabolic and Research Clinic, Hospital General de Ticomán SS DF and Mexican Group for Basic and Clinical Research in Internal Medicine, México DF, México.
authors.forename: Alberto Francisco
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Rubio-Guerra
authors.forename: Leticia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rodriguez-Lopez
authors.forename: German
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vargas-Ayala
authors.forename: Saul
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Huerta-Ramirez
authors.forename: David Castro
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Serna
authors.forename: Jose Juan
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Lozano-Nuevo
keywords: Blood pressure control; Depression; Hypertension