OBJECTIVES: To determine if low blood pressure is associated with a definab
le 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, systo
lic hypotensive subjects scored a CES-D mean of 12.07 +/- .67 compared to 8
.99 +/- .95 for normotensives (P < .01). Regression analyses supported thes
e 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 day
s 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.