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Relationship Between Low Blood Pressure and Depressive Symptomatology in Older People

2000; Wiley; Volume: 48; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1111/j.1532-5415.2000.tb02642.x

1532-5415

Christine A. Stroup‐Benham, Kyriakos S. Markides, Sandra A. Black, James S. Goodwin,

Aging and Gerontology Research

OBJECTIVES : To determine if low blood pressure is associated with a definable constellation of somatic and psychological symptoms in older persons. DESIGN : A population‐based study. SETTING : In‐home interviews in five southwestern states. PARTICIPANTS : A total of 2723 Mexican Americans aged 65 or older not living in institutions. MEASURES : Blood pressure, Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES‐D), global self‐rating of health, and self‐esteem. RESULTS : Bivariate analyses indicate a significant relationship between low blood pressure and increased depressive symptomatology; for example, systolic hypotensive subjects scored a CES‐D mean of 12.07 ± .67 compared to 8.99 ± .95 for normotensives ( P < .01). Regression analyses supported these findings when controlling for confounders such as gender, age, and use of antihypertensive medications. Subjects with low blood pressure also scored lower on self‐esteem and global self‐reported health and reported more days waking up feeling tired. CONCLUSIONS : These data support the existence of a relationship between low blood pressure and higher levels of depressive symptomatology as well as a constellation of somatic and psychosocial symptoms. J Am Geriatr Soc 48: 250–255, 2000 .