Appraisement of Mental Health Manifestations among Hypertensive Patients

Abstract

Background and objective: Hypertension is a growing public health problem worldwide; hypertensive patients experience negative emotions, which in particular may increase the risk for mental health instabilities. The objective of the study was to find out the prevalence of anxiety and depression among hypertensive patients. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in a clinic from May 1st to October 1st, 2021 in the city of Erbil, Kurdistan Region of Iraq, among 286 hypertensive patients, for assessing the level of association of hypertension with depression and anxiety. Results: A total of 286 participants were included, the mean age was 61.2 ± 12 years, and the age range was 33 to 88 years. More than half (57.3%) of the patients were females, 55.9% of patients had a form of Ischemic Heart Disease (including stable and unstable angina, obstructive and non-obstructive coronary artery disease) and 39.9% of them were diabetic. It was found that depression was higher among females (26.3%) than male patients (18%) (P = 0.002). Anxiety was more prevalent among females (24.4%), while only 8.2% of male hypertensive cases had anxiety (P = 0.001). Conclusion: A considerable proportion of the hypertensive patients had depression and anxiety. The rate was higher among women than men.