Hypertension and Low Body Weight Are Associated with Depressive Symptoms Only in Females: Findings from the Shika Study

Abstract

Although the relationship between hypertension and depression is influenced by several physiological factors, including body weight and other lifestyle factors, such as eating behavior, the specific involvement of depression in hypertension remains unclear. Therefore, this epidemiological study examined the role of body weight in the relationship between hypertension and depressive symptoms among the middle-aged and elderly living in the community of Shika town. In total, 1141 males and 1142 females with mean ages of 69.09 and 70.61 years, respectively, participated this study. Physiological factors, including blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), and lifestyle, were investigated in a medical check-up in Shika town. Depressive symptoms were evaluated using the Geriatric Depression Scale 15 (GDS-15). A two-way analysis of covariance exhibited a significant interaction between the two hypertensive groups and body size groups on GDS in females. The post hoc Bonferroni method showed that in the hypertensive groups, GDS was significantly higher in the underweight group (BMI < 18.5) than in the standard/overweight group; however, this relationship was not observed in the no-hypertensive groups. Multiple regression analysis also verified this relationship. Therefore, it is suggested that the combination of hypertension and being underweight is associated with depressive symptoms only in females.

Relationship Between Subjective Body Shape Perception and Depression Screening Tool PHQ-9 in the Geriatric Population: The Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

“…Among previous studies, there was a result that an underweight group with a body mass index of less than 18.5 had a higher Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) than normal and overweight groups in geriatric females with hypertension [23]. Also, in the geriatric population, energy requirements are reduced due to a lower www.moodandemotion.org basal metabolic rate and reduced physical activity.…”

Association between animal protein intake, oral frailty and calf circumference in middle-aged and older adults: a cross-sectional analysis from the Shika study

“…Shika town had 20 845 residents, of whom 12 532 were aged ≥50 years as of February 2018 21. The Shika study is a community-based epidemiological study using data such as questionnaires and medical information 13 19 22. This study included 361 residents aged ≥50 years in four model districts (Tsuchida, Horimatsu, Togi and Higashi Masuho), having large populations in Shika town who agreed to participate.…”