Investigating the Impact of the Number of Medication Use on Depression Among Hypertensive Patients: Results from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Database

<i>Background and Objective:</i> Hypertension is a prevalent chronic condition often treated with multiple medications, leading to polypharmacy, which can heighten the risk of adverse drug reactions and contribute to psychological issues like depression. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between polypharmacy and depressive symptoms in hypertensive patients using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2017 to 2020. <i>Materials and Methods</i>: This study utilized data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) collected between 2017 and March 2020. <i>Results</i>: Among 2543 hypertensive participants, 12.3% met the criteria for depression. The findings revealed that patients using 11 or more medications were ten times more likely to experience depressive symptoms compared to those taking 1 to 2 medications (OR = 10.06, <i>p</i> < 0.001). Additionally, younger age (18 to 45 years), female gender, and lower educational attainment were significantly associated with higher rates of depressive symptoms. Specifically, females were 1.47 times more likely to experience depression compared to males (<i>p</i> = 0.032). <i>Conclusions</i>: This research highlights the substantial impact of medication burden on mental health among hypertensive patients, emphasizing the need for tailored clinical interventions for this vulnerable population.