Relationship between low blood pressure and depressive symptomatology in older people

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.