Authors : Abdulbari Bener , Abdulaziz Kamal , Mohammed Al-Banna , Ahmed A. K. Al-Mulla and Isam-Eldin A. Elbagi
Abstract: Lay people often mention anxiety, depression and sometimes stress as the most important risk factors for hypertension. Previous studies have supported contradictory either positive or negative to the association between hypertension and stress and anxiety. The aim of the present study was to examine the role of anxiety, depression and stress symptomalogy in the subsequent development of hypertension in newly developed oil-rich Qatari population. Cohort as matched case - control study with prospective outcomes. The survey was carried out in urban and semi-urban Primary Health Care Centers (PHCs). The survey was conducted from January to July 2003 among Qatari nationals, age of 25 to 65 years. During the study period, (400 cases and 400 controls) and total 800 subjects were approached, of whom 318 cases and 318 controls were selected for the study, the response rate was 79.5%. Face-to-face interviews were based on a questionnaire that included variables on age, sex, socioeconomic status (SES), parity, income level, cigarette smoking, physical activity, lifestyle, Body Mass Index (BMI) and blood pressure. This study includes a self-report questionnaire based on face-to-face interview on anxiety, depression and stress symptoms. Of the total number of patients surveyed, 46.7% were males and 53.3% females. The mean age (in years) for males versus females was (45.7 years and 41.3 years, respectively (p<0.001). Overweight and obesity was considerably higher among hypertensive subjects (p<0.001). Diabetes mellitus was significantly more common among hypertensive subjects (p<0.001). Most of the hypertensive subjects had the family history of hypertension 37.6%, followed by diabetes mellitus 33.5%. The mean and median scores are significantly higher among hypertensive compared to controls with the respect of anxiety, depression and stress. Furthermore the study suggests there is a positive correlation between hypertension and psychiatric disorders anxiety, depression and stress. The present study revealed that the anxiety, depression and stress are predictive risk factors for the development of hypertension. The characterization of these factors will contribute to defining more effective and specific strategies to screen for and control hypertension and Cardiovascular Disease (CVD).
Abdulbari Bener , Abdulaziz Kamal , Mohammed Al-Banna , Ahmed A. K. Al-Mulla and Isam-Eldin A. Elbagi , 2006. Are Symptoms of Anxiety, Depression and Stress Risk Factors for Hypertension?. The Cardiology, 2: 45-51.