Even mild depression is associated with among-day blood pressure variability, including masked non-dipping assessed by 7-d/24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring

Abstract

The effect of mild depression on blood pressure (BP) was assessed in 116 Japanese (32–79 years). As compared to non-depressive (Geriatric Depression Scale, GDS-15 score <5) subjects, mild depressives (GDS-15 score: 1–15) had shorter sleep duration (p = 0.021), lower subjective quality of life (health: p = 0.016; life satisfaction: p < 0.001; and happiness: p < 0.001), and higher 7-d systolic BP (p < 0.05). “Masked non-dipping” (dipping on day 1, but non-dipping on at least 1 of the following 6 d) was more frequent among depressive than non-depressive normotensives (p = 0.008). Among-day BP variability may underlie cardiovascular disease accompanying a key component of psychological depression.

• 7-d/24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring
• among-day blood pressure variability
• home blood pressure
• masked non-dipping
• mildly depressed mood

Acknowledgements

We wish to thank all the participants and community workers of Uraus town in Hokkaido, Japan who aided in this study.

Declaration of interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interests. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.