Prevalence of Depression among Hypertensive Patients Attending a Rural Health Centre in Kanyakumari

Abstract

Background: Hypertension is a non-communicable disease leading to chronic morbidities and is found to have higher chance of suffer- ing from depression. Hypertensive patients with co-morbid de- pression lead to lack of adherence to treatment, lost to follow up and poor compliance to lifestyle modification. Therefore it is very important to assess prevalence of depression among hypertensives. Objectives: To study the prevalence of depression among hyper- tensive patients and its associates factors. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was done among 200 hyper- tensives attending the RHC, Marapaddi, Kanayakumari during November 2017 to February 2018. Depression was assessed using a self reported and previously validated PHQ-9 questionnaire. Data was analysed using statistical software SPSS. Results: Out of the 200 patients, 65% were women and 35% were men. 41% had depression, of which 28.5% had mild depression, 7% had moderate depression, 3% had moderately severe depression and 2.5% suffer from severe depression. Some factors like female gender, low socio economic status, positive family history were found to be significantly associated with depression (p<0.05). Conclusion: The study results show that there is high prevalence of depression among hypertensives. The early detection and prompt treatment with life style modifications can prevent depression among hypertensives.

Keywords

• Hypertensive patients
• depression
• prevalence