Vincent Boima1, John Tetteh2, Ernest Yorke1, Timothy Archampong1, George Mensah2, Richard Biritwum2, Alfred Edwin Yawson3. 1. Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Ghana Medical School, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana. 2. Department of Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Ghana Medical School, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana. 3. Department of Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Ghana Medical School, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana. Electronic address: aeyawson@ug.edu.gh.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Depression and hypertension interact through a complex interplay of social, behavioral and biological factors. Despite the huge burden of hypertension in the African sub-region, very little information exists on depression among hypertensive patients. This study assessed the prevalence and factors associated with depression among young and older adult hypertensive patients in Ghana. METHOD: Data from the World Health Organization Study on Global AGEing and Adult Health wave 2 (2014/2015) for Ghana was used. Depression was estimated among participants with blood pressure 140/90mmHg and above. Weighted descriptive statistics and logistic regression with adjusted predictions were carried out. The analysis was performed using Stata 15. RESULT: The overall prevalence of depression was 6.3%. Older hypertensive patients had almost twice the prevalence of depression compared with younger patients (8.4% vs 4.5%). The factors which predicted depression among hypertensive patients were educational level, marital status, religion, region of residence, work status, self-rated health (SRH), and unhealthy lifestyle. Participants with no religion were more than 7 times likely to be depressed compared with Christians [aOR(95%CI)=7.52(2.11-26.8)]. Those in the Volta region were more than 8 times likely to be depressed compared to those in the Greater Accra region [aOR(95%CI)=8.58(2.51-29.3)]. CONCLUSION: Older adult hypertensive patients were more likely to experience depressive symptoms. Multiple factors predicted depression in both young and old hypertensive patients; thus a comprehensive care package including psychological support for patients with hypertension is essential for optimum clinical management.
BACKGROUND:Depression and hypertension interact through a complex interplay of social, behavioral and biological factors. Despite the huge burden of hypertension in the African sub-region, very little information exists on depression among hypertensivepatients. This study assessed the prevalence and factors associated with depression among young and older adult hypertensivepatients in Ghana. METHOD: Data from the World Health Organization Study on Global AGEing and Adult Health wave 2 (2014/2015) for Ghana was used. Depression was estimated among participants with blood pressure 140/90mmHg and above. Weighted descriptive statistics and logistic regression with adjusted predictions were carried out. The analysis was performed using Stata 15. RESULT: The overall prevalence of depression was 6.3%. Older hypertensivepatients had almost twice the prevalence of depression compared with younger patients (8.4% vs 4.5%). The factors which predicted depression among hypertensivepatients were educational level, marital status, religion, region of residence, work status, self-rated health (SRH), and unhealthy lifestyle. Participants with no religion were more than 7 times likely to be depressed compared with Christians [aOR(95%CI)=7.52(2.11-26.8)]. Those in the Volta region were more than 8 times likely to be depressed compared to those in the Greater Accra region [aOR(95%CI)=8.58(2.51-29.3)]. CONCLUSION: Older adult hypertensivepatients were more likely to experience depressive symptoms. Multiple factors predicted depression in both young and old hypertensivepatients; thus a comprehensive care package including psychological support for patients with hypertension is essential for optimum clinical management.