Abstract

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. 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. 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. A sample of 864 veterans was analyzed, representing approximately 18.8 million US veterans. 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. 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]). 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.

Full Text
Paper version not known

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.