A STUDY OF INCIDENCE OF DEPRESSION ASSOCIATED WITH THE LONG TERM USE OF BETA BLOCKERS IN HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS.

Dr S. Umadevi; Dr.J.Ezhil Ramya; Dr B. Meenakshi; Dr.J.Kaniraj Peter

Volume : VIII, Issue : IX, September - 2018

A STUDY OF INCIDENCE OF DEPRESSION ASSOCIATED WITH THE LONG TERM USE OF BETA BLOCKERS IN HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS.

Dr S. Umadevi, Dr. J. Ezhil Ramya, Dr B. Meenakshi, Dr. J. Kaniraj Peter

Abstract :

BACKGROUND: Depression is highly prevalent and frequently occurs in patients with hypertension. Certain medication especially beta blockers when used to treat hypertension are alleged to be associated with higher risk of depression. OBJECTIVE: To assess the incidence of depression associated with the long term use of beta blockers when compared with calcium channel blockers or angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors.

MATERIALS & METHODS: A total of one hundred hypertensive patients who were on regular treatment for more than five years, visiting hypertensive clinic at Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital, Tirunelveli were included in the study. The study was conducted during the period of Oct 1^st to 15 ^th 2010 after getting approval from ethical committee .Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Personal Health Questionnaire Depression Scale. A scoring was done to assess the severity of depression.A score of 0 – 5 is considered as insignificant. 6 – 8 considered as mild depression, 9 – 15 as moderate and more than 15 as severe depression

RESULTS: Totally 100 patients were assessed .73 were females and 27 were males. Gender analysis revealed that female patients were more in number than males. With regard to age, highest incidence of hypertension was found in the age group of 60 –69 yrs. Out of 100, 40 patients were taking monotherapy and among them 12 patients were on Tab.Atenolol, 8 patients on Tab.Enalapril,13 patients on Tab.Amlodipine and 7 were on Tab.Nifedipine. 60 patients were on polytherapy. 58.33 % of patients who are taking Atenolol as monotherapyand 42.10 % of patients who were taking Atenolol along with other antihypertensives were found to have mild depression,whereas only 13.65 % of patients taking Enalapril and Amlodepine showed mild depression. 33.33 % in Atenolol group, 57.89 % in Atenolol combination group were having moderate depression. CONCLUSION: In our study, use of Beta blockers was associated with high incidence of depression when compared to Calcium Channel Blockers & Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors.