Mediating role of anxiety and depression in the relationship between perceived stress and essential hypertension.

In order to investigate the relationship between perceived stress, anxiety, depression and hypertension in patients with essential hypertension, a case-control study was conducted among community residents. A total of 312 residents participated in the study by completing a self-reported questionnaire, 156 of whom were hypertensive patients and 156 were healthy. The questionnaire included demographic information, Perceived Stress Scale, Beck Anxiety Inventory and Beck Depression Inventory-II. The data were analyzed using t-test, correlation analysis, Logistic regression analysis, and structural equation modeling procedure to validate the mediation model. The results of Logistic regression analysis showed that anxiety (OR = 1.082, 95% CI 1.011–1.133, P < 0.01), depression (OR = 1.041, 95% CI 1.006–1.078, P < 0.05) and age (OR = 1.033, 95% CI 1.008–1.058, P < 0.01) were risk factors for hypotension, however, perceived stress (OR = 0.955, 95% CI 0.921–0.990, P < 0.05) was a protective factor against hypertension. Furthermore, structural equation model results reported that anxiety and depression play a mediating role between perceived stress and essential hypertension. These results suggest that anxiety and depression can raise the risk of developing essential hypertension. ​While the relationship between perceived stress and hypertension is still debated, it is well established that perceived stress can positively predict hypertension through the mediating role of anxiety and depression. Therefore, healthcare workers should take care of the mental health of patients and provide more psychological support to help them move away from negative emotions and better control their blood pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]