title: Antidepressant medication can improve hypertension in elderly patients with depression.
abstract: We explored the influence of antidepressant therapy on blood pressure and quality of life in elderly patients with hypertension. Depression occurs at a higher rate in patients with hypertension than in the normal population. It has been reported that depressive symptoms lead to poorer hypertension control, resulting in the development of complications. We conducted a randomized, parallel group study. A total of 70 elderly patients with hypertension in the period of August 2008 to March 2011 were divided into two groups based on their antihypertensive therapy, a control group (amlodipine, 5 mg daily; n=35) and a therapy group (amlodipine, 5mg daily; citalopram, 20 mg daily; n=35). We compared 24 hour, daytime, and nighttime measurements of systolic and diastolic blood pressure, in addition to quality of life, assessed using the Hamilton rating scale for depression, and a 36 item Short Form quality of life questionnaire (SF-36). Both groups were followed for 3 months. At the end of 3 months, all blood pressure levels were significantly lower in the therapy group than in the control group. The other scores (with the exception of the physical function subcategory of the SF-36 quality of life scale) were significantly higher. Our study indicates that clinicians should be aware of depressive symptoms in elderly patients with hypertension, and should consider antidepressant therapy in these patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Xuan Wu Hospital, Capital Medical University, 45 Changshun Street, Xicheng District, Beijing 100053, China.
authors.forename: Wenjing
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatrics, Xuan Wu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Lina
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency, Three Gorges University People's Hospital, The First People of Yichang, Yichang, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoling
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatrics, Xuan Wu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China. Electronic address: liy_xw@sina.com.
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatrics, Xuan Wu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatrics, Xuan Wu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatrics, Xuan Wu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Chuan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatrics, Xuan Wu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Jia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatrics, Xuan Wu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency, Beijing Boai Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Huizhen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017311:Amlodipine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015283:Citalopram / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D015283:Citalopram; D017311:Amlodipine
keywords: Antidepressants; Depression; Elderly; Hypertension; Quality of life