Document Type

Poster

Date of Original Version

3-27-2026

Abstract

Objectives

Depression and hypertension are prevalent chronic conditions in the United States and may co-occur due to shared behavioral and physiological risk factors. This study examined the association between depression and hypertension among U.S. adults using nationally representative survey data.

Methods

A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using data from the 2021–2023 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Depression was defined as a Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) score ≥10. Hypertension was defined by measured systolic blood pressure ≥140 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥90 mmHg, self-reported physician diagnosis, or antihypertensive medication use. Participant characteristics were compared by depression status using chi-square tests for categorical variables and t-tests for continuous variables. Survey-weighted multivariable logistic regression with forward selection (p< 0.05) was used to estimate adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% Wald confidence intervals (CIs). Results The study included 4,121 participants, representing a weighted population of 166.1 million U.S. adults (mean age 46 years; mean Body Mass Index [BMI] 29.7 kg/m²). The sample was 58% female and 62% non-Hispanic White. Overall, 20% screened positive for depression, and 42% had hypertension. In fully adjusted models controlling for age, sex, smoking, race/ethnicity, and BMI, depression was associated with higher odds of hypertension (adjusted OR=1.13; 95% CI: 0.93–1.36); however, the association was not statistically significant. All analyses accounted for complex survey design and sampling weights.

Conclusion

In this nationally representative sample, depression was associated with modestly higher odds of hypertension, though the association was attenuated after covariate adjustment. These findings suggest that shared risk factors may underlie the observed relationship and highlight the importance of integrated mental and cardiovascular health strategies to reduce population-level disease burden.

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