Anxiety and depression among people with primary hypertension:A case-control study of prevalence and associated factors

Objective This study aimed to assess the prevalence of anxiety and depression and to identify their associated factors among people with primary hypertension.Methods We conducted a case-control study in Fucheng district of Mianyang city.In all,340 patients with primary hypertension and 250 healthy physical examinees as control subjects were included in this study.Anxiety and depression were measured by using the Selfrating Anxiety Scale(SAS) and Self-rating Depression Scale(SDS).Multivariable analysis using multiple logistic regression was carried out to evaluate the combined effect of various facors associated with anxiety and depesssion.Results In comparison with control subjects,a higher prevalence of anxiety and depression was observed in hypertensive patients(29.1% vs 2% and 21.8% vs 1.2%,respectively).Factors found to be independently associated with anxiety were smoking,BP≥140/90 mmHg and cardiovascular disease.For depression,being female,of older age,and cardiovascular disease were significantly associated.Conclusion This study identified that a large proportion of adults with primary hypertension had anxiety and/or depression,and identified factors associated with these entities.These results alert clinicians to identify and treat anxiety and depression as common components of hypertension care.