Prevalence and Associated Factors of Depression Among Elderly Hypertensive Patients in Vietnam

Background/Objectives: Depression accompanying hypertension increases the burden of illness and negatively affects patients' lives. However, depression among elderly with cardiovascular diseases in general and hypertension in specific has not been paid proper attention, especially in the context of Vietnam. Therefore, we expected to examine the prevalence, characteristics, and related factors of depression on elderly patients with hypertension. Methods: A cross-sectional study at the Department of Geriatrics, Can Tho Central General Hospital (from April 2020 to February 2022), involving 414 patients aged ≥60 years with hypertension. Depression was assessed using ICD-10 diagnostic criteria; related factors were evaluated using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), KATZ12 index, and UCLA-LS3-J11 scale. Results: 31.4% of participants were found to have depression (mild 17.7%, moderate 9.7%, severe 4.0%). Common characteristics of depression included sleep disturbances, decreased energy, and low mood. Poor sleep quality, being female, lower socioeconomic status, higher hypertension grade, and increased loneliness were found to be significantly associated with depression. Conclusions: The high prevalence of depression among elderly hypertensive patients highlights the need for effective screening and intervention strategies. Addressing factors such as sleep quality, gender, socioeconomic challenges, and social isolation may help mitigate the burden of depression in this vulnerable population. This research should be expanded to elderly patients with hypertension in society, outpatients, and individuals with other chronic diseases. Developing a predictive model for depression in elderly patients, particularly those with chronic diseases, can improve early detection, treatment effectiveness, and overall care quality.