Researchers at the University of Utah, Salt Lake City, led by Samanvitha Cherukuri, MBBS, conducted a post hoc analysis of data from SPRINT (Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial) to test the hypothesis that depressive symptoms might be associated with lower adherence to a systolic blood pressure intervention (systolic blood pressure goal, <120 mmHg vs <140 mmHg).
Results were reported during a poster session at the National Kidney Foundation Spring Clinical Meetings 2023. The poster was titled Depressive Symptoms and Achieving BP Goals in the Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT).
Baseline depressive symptoms were identified using Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9) scores. Respondents were stratified into one of three groups: (1) no depressive symptoms (score 0); (2) minimal/mild depressive symptoms (score 1-9); (3) moderate/severe depressive symptoms (score 10-27). Mixed effects models were used to relate baseline PHQ-9 scores to postrandomization change in systolic blood pressure (achieved standard arm vs achieved intensive arm), and change in number of antihypertensive medications.
The analysis included data on 9340 SPRINT participants. Results revealed an association between moderate/severe depressive symptoms and less separation of achieved systolic blood pressure in SPRINT participants.
“Addressing depressive symptoms might be important to achieve adherence to interventions,” the authors said.
Source: Cherukuri S, Nalamati R, Hartsell S, et al. Depressive symptoms and achieving BP goals in the Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT). Poster #373. Abstract of a poster presented at the National Kidney Foundation Spring Clinical Meetings 2023; April 11-15, 2023; Austin, Texas.
