A study on prevalence of depression among patients suffering from systemic hypertension attending a tertiary care hospital in Tamil Nadu

Abstract

Background: Both hypertension and depression are non-communicable diseases with multiple common factors playing role in pathogenesis of both the diseases.Objectives1.To find out the prevalence of depression among hypertensives attending a tertiary care hospital in Tamil Nadu.2.To find out the association between risk factors and occurrence of depression among patients suffering from hypertension.Methodology: The present study was descriptive cross-sectional study carried out among the hypertensives attending the OPD of Rajah Muthiah medical college and hospital between 2019 and 2021. Hamilton rating scale for depression was used for the diagnosis of depression. Results: The prevalence of depression among hypertensives was found to be 58% with 27% having mild depression, 25% had moderate depression and 6% had severe depression. Increase in age, lower educational status, presence of comorbidities in addition to hypertension and poor compliance to treatment were found to be associated with the occurrence of hypertension among the hypertensives.Conclusion: Screening of depression shall be mandated among sufferers of all NCDs. Indirect intervention of improving the educational status among the population would aid in decreasing depression among hypertensives. There was increased chance of non-compliant among those suffering from both hypertension and depression