The Prevalence of Anxiety and Depression in Patients Diagnosed with Hypertension and Diabetes Mellitus in a Secondary Healthcare Center in Northern India

Abstract Introduction: Hypertension (HTN) and diabetes mellitus (DM) are silent killers affecting 29.8% and 7.7% of the Indian population, respectively. Both have a two-way relationship with depression and anxiety and aggravate the bad prognosis of one another. Hypertensive patients have 2–3 times increased risk of depression. The risk of depression is 3 times higher in patients with DM and 2 times in type-2 DM. Although for positive correlation, no single cause has been identified between the two, it is widely accepted fact that sympathetic overactivity, hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal dysfunction, proinflammatory cytokines, and many other epigenetic factors can be responsible for this increased prevalence. The study was conducted in a secondary heathcare center to find the correlation of depression and anxiety with HTN and DM. Materials and Methods: Two hundred patients were included in our study. Socio-demographic details were collected in a semi-structured pro forma. Depression and anxiety in participants were screened using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, respectively. The collected data were then subjected to statistical analysis. Results: The Majority of these participants reported mild symptoms where 70% participants showed signs of depression and 35% of anxiety. Gender, employment status, and duration of illness were the variables which were statistically significant and affected prevalence and severity. Females showed higher mean scores for depression and anxiety than in males. Conclusion: The study suggests that patients with HTN and DM should be screened for depression and anxiety for early diagnosis and early treatment to improve prognosis.