Key result
Depressive symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory > 10) were associated with higher estimated marginal systolic and diastolic blood pressure over time, but not with hypertension prevalence.
Why the study?
Depression is a risk factor for hypertension, but few studies have evaluated this relationship specifically in African American women.
Are higher depressive symptoms associated with increased blood pressure or hypertension prevalence in African American women?
Cohort (n=250)
Are higher depressive symptoms associated with increased blood pressure or hypertension prevalence in African American women?
Elevated depressive symptoms are associated with higher longitudinal systolic and diastolic blood pressure trajectories in African American women, highlighting the potential role of mental health in cardiovascular risk.
Supports BP monitoring in symptomatic African American women; hypothesis-generating without establishing causality or incident hypertension risk.
BACKGROUND: Depression is a risk factor for hypertension, yet few studies have been conducted in African American women. OBJECTIVE: We conducted a secondary analysis of depressive symptoms and high blood pressure among African American women from the Intergenerational Impact of Genetic and Psychological Factors on Blood Pressure longitudinal study (N = 250). METHODS: Logistic regression was used to examine depressive symptoms and blood pressure, adjusting for education, employment, and racism/discrimination. Growth curve modeling was used to investigate longitudinal associations between depressive symptoms and systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressures at 4 time points (T1-T4). RESULTS: Depressive symptoms at baseline were not prospectively associated with hypertension prevalence. Participants with Beck Depression Inventory scores higher than 10 had higher estimated marginal SBP and DBP over time compared with participants with lower scores. CONCLUSION: Depressive symptoms were not associated with hypertension prevalence at T4, but they were associated with higher estimated marginal SBP and DBP. Future research is needed to elucidate mechanisms and implications for clinical care and prevention.
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Gao et al. (2021) conducted a cohort in Depressive symptoms and high blood pressure (n=250). Depressive symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory score > 10) vs. Lower Beck Depression Inventory scores was evaluated on Hypertension prevalence and longitudinal systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Depressive symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory > 10) were associated with higher estimated marginal systolic and diastolic blood pressure over time, but not with hypertension prevalence.
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