Prevalence of depression in a sample of hypertensive outpatients in Mosul

Abstract EN

Hypertension is a common chronic cardiovascular disease that affects all ethnic groups throughout the world.

It leads to chronic disability and excess mortality.

Depression is common sequelae of hypertension and contributes significantly to poor health in hypertensive patients.

Objective: The current study assessed the prevalence of major depression in patients with hypertension.

The effect of sociodemographic and hypertension related factors on its development were also assessed.

Method: Hypertensive patients were selected randomly from a medical outpatient unit in Mosul.

Patients were diagnosed by a specialist physician, denied any past history of psychological illnesses or psychiatric consultations prior to having hypertension.

N=300 (n=140 men, n=160 women) received the International Ne Questionnaire -version 5.0.0- (major depression module) by direct interview.

Antihypertensive drugs used by the patients were also take in consideration.

Data was collected in a period between the 1st Jan and the 5th June 2014.severity of the depression was assessed by Beck depression inventory.

Results: Current prevalence of major depression in hypertensive patients was 27.3%.

Statistically significant difference was found between employed and unemployed, the income of the patient, age groups (>40 years was found to be risky) and marital status groups (being widow, divorced or single risky).while being employed was a protective factor against the development of major depression in some patients.

Conclusions: Current prevalence of major depression in hypertensive patients was 27.3%, which is higher than other studies (5-26.5%).

Also, it was found that having the grade II hypertension, being a widow, divorced or single, or age >40 years old are risk factors to develop major depression in hypertensive patients, while being employed was a protective factor.