Why the study?
What are the rates of depression in elderly patients treated for isolated systolic hypertension compared to community norms?
What are the rates of depression in elderly patients treated for isolated systolic hypertension compared to community norms?
Elderly patients in a hypertension treatment trial exhibited lower depression rates than community norms, a finding largely explained by differences in baseline disability.
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Lower depression in treated elderly hypertensives largely reflects disability differences; hypothesis-generating and requires prospective confirmation before informing care.
In a multicentre pilot study of the treatment of 551 elderly patients with isolated systolic hypertension (SHEP), the effects on behavioural dimensions were also investigated. The presence and severity of depression, dementia and disability was measured by the SHORT‐CARE at baseline, annual follow up and, in a random half of subjects at bimonthly intervals. Remarkably low rates and levels of depression were noted in comparison with community norms; neither demographic characteristics, rates of dementia nor medication effects explained this finding. However, controlling for disability largely resolved the discrepancy in depression rates between SHEP and the community norms.
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Edlavitch et al. (1987) studied this question.
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