Abstract P204: Depressive Symptomatology, Anti-depressant Use and Hypertension in Young Adulthood

Objective: While depression symptoms have been associated with cardiovascular disease in adulthood, little is known of the effects of adolescent-onset depression and hypertension in young adulthood. Furthermore, few studies have examined whether use of anti-depressants is associated with hypertension among young adults. Research Design and Methods: We examined the relation between depression symptoms and hypertension in young adulthood in the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (N=13,722). Adolescents completed the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CESD)-20 during wave 1 (1994-1995, mean age 16) and the CESD-10 during follow-up wave 4 (2007-2008, mean age 29). Depression symptoms were characterized as a score of 16 or above for the CESD-20 and 11 or above for CESD-10. During follow-up participants were asked to provide to the interviewer all medications they were currently taking or had taken in the previous six months. Antidepressant and antihypertensive medications were identified from all medications provided. Blood pressure was measured during an in-home visit. Hypertension was defined as measured SBP of at least 140mmHg or DBP of at least 90mmHG measured in adulthood, or use of antihypertensive medications. Results: The prevalence of hypertension was 20%. In models adjusting for sociodemographic factors, high depression symptoms in either adolescence or young adulthood were not significantly associated with hypertension in young adulthood. Use of anti-depressants in young adulthood was associated with hypertension (OR 2.89, 95%CI 1.82, 4.56) this association remained even after adjusting for obesity. No interactions by gender were noted. Conclusions: In this nationally representative sample, antidepressant use was associated hypertension in young adulthood. In accordance with a recent AHA Scientific Statement, our findings suggest that young adults with depression should be monitored closely to prevent the development of risk factors, such as hypertension, which may accelerate the development of cardiovascular disease.