Sharon Y Lee1, Molly E Waring2, Crystal L Park3, Erin C Blake3. 1. Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, USA. sharon.y.lee@uconn.edu. 2. Department of Allied Health Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA. 3. Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: High blood pressure is the most common chronic condition among US veterans. Blood pressure control is essential to preventing and managing cardiovascular diseases. While depressive symptoms are a known risk factor for uncontrolled blood pressure and veterans experience high rates of depressive symptoms, no research has examined the relationship between depressive symptoms and blood pressure control among US veterans. OBJECTIVE: We examined whether moderately severe-to-severe depressive symptoms, compared to none-to-minimal, are associated with higher risk of uncontrolled blood pressure among US veterans. DESIGN: We analyzed a population-based sample of veterans from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2013-2016). Logistic regression models were adjusted for marital status, age, and body mass index. All analyses were weighted; results are generalizable to US veterans. PARTICIPANTS: A sample of 864 veterans was analyzed, representing approximately 18.8 million US veterans. MAIN MEASURES: Depressive symptoms were assessed by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. Uncontrolled blood pressure was defined as average systolic blood pressure ≥ 130 and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥ 80. KEY RESULTS: For depressive symptoms, 78.2% (SE = 1.6) of US veterans had none-to-minimal, 18.2% (SE = 1.2) had mild-to-moderate, and 3.5% (SE = 0.8) had moderately severe-to-severe. Forty-three percent (SE = 3.0) of US veterans had uncontrolled blood pressure. Moderately severe-to-severe depressive symptoms, compared to none-to-minimal, were associated with lower risk for uncontrolled blood pressure (aOR = .28, 95% CI [.09, .85]). Mild-to-moderate depressive symptoms were not associated with blood pressure control (aOR = .98, 95% CI [.59, 1.65]). CONCLUSIONS: US veterans with moderately severe-to-severe depressive symptoms were less likely to have uncontrolled blood pressure than veterans with none-to-minimal symptoms. Future research should examine factors unique to veterans that may explain findings opposite of the hypothesized relationship between depressive symptoms and blood pressure control.
BACKGROUND: High blood pressure is the most common chronic condition among US veterans. Blood pressure control is essential to preventing and managing cardiovascular diseases. While depressive symptoms are a known risk factor for uncontrolled blood pressure and veterans experience high rates of depressive symptoms, no research has examined the relationship between depressive symptoms and blood pressure control among US veterans. OBJECTIVE: We examined whether moderately severe-to-severe depressive symptoms, compared to none-to-minimal, are associated with higher risk of uncontrolled blood pressure among US veterans. DESIGN: We analyzed a population-based sample of veterans from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2013-2016). Logistic regression models were adjusted for marital status, age, and body mass index. All analyses were weighted; results are generalizable to US veterans. PARTICIPANTS: A sample of 864 veterans was analyzed, representing approximately 18.8 million US veterans. MAIN MEASURES: Depressive symptoms were assessed by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. Uncontrolled blood pressure was defined as average systolic blood pressure ≥ 130 and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥ 80. KEY RESULTS: For depressive symptoms, 78.2% (SE = 1.6) of US veterans had none-to-minimal, 18.2% (SE = 1.2) had mild-to-moderate, and 3.5% (SE = 0.8) had moderately severe-to-severe. Forty-three percent (SE = 3.0) of US veterans had uncontrolled blood pressure. Moderately severe-to-severe depressive symptoms, compared to none-to-minimal, were associated with lower risk for uncontrolled blood pressure (aOR = .28, 95% CI [.09, .85]). Mild-to-moderate depressive symptoms were not associated with blood pressure control (aOR = .98, 95% CI [.59, 1.65]). CONCLUSIONS: US veterans with moderately severe-to-severe depressive symptoms were less likely to have uncontrolled blood pressure than veterans with none-to-minimal symptoms. Future research should examine factors unique to veterans that may explain findings opposite of the hypothesized relationship between depressive symptoms and blood pressure control.
Authors: D R Berlowitz; A S Ash; E C Hickey; R H Friedman; M Glickman; B Kader; M A Moskowitz Journal: N Engl J Med Date: 1998-12-31 Impact factor: 91.245
Authors: R Neal Axon; Mulugeta Gebregziabher; Carrae Echols; Gregory Gilbert Msph; Leonard E Egede Journal: J Gen Intern Med Date: 2011-06-14 Impact factor: 5.128
Authors: Paul Muntner; Daichi Shimbo; Robert M Carey; Jeanne B Charleston; Trudy Gaillard; Sanjay Misra; Martin G Myers; Gbenga Ogedegbe; Joseph E Schwartz; Raymond R Townsend; Elaine M Urbina; Anthony J Viera; William B White; Jackson T Wright Journal: Hypertension Date: 2019-05 Impact factor: 10.190
Authors: John M Dinkler; Catherine A Sugar; José J Escarce; Michael K Ong; Carol M Mangione Journal: Am J Hypertens Date: 2016-02-16 Impact factor: 2.689
Authors: Beth E Cohen; Kris Gima; Daniel Bertenthal; Sue Kim; Charles R Marmar; Karen H Seal Journal: J Gen Intern Med Date: 2009-09-29 Impact factor: 5.128
Authors: Emily W Piercefield; Molly E Howard; Michael H Robinson; Cain Eric Kirk; Addison P Ragan; Sondra D Reese Journal: J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich) Date: 2016-12-05 Impact factor: 3.738
Authors: Everlyne G Ogugu; Sheryl L Catz; Janice F Bell; Christiana Drake; Julie T Bidwell; James E Gangwisch Journal: Integr Blood Press Control Date: 2022-05-25