Risk factors for comorbid hypertension and depression in the elderly: Evidence from the China health and retirement longitudinal study

As the aging process accelerates, an increasing number of elderly individuals are experiencing psychological issues, particularly those with hypertension. Identifying the risk factors for comorbid hypertension and depression in the elderly is crucial for improving their quality of life. The China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study is a survey conducted among older adults in China, collecting general data from middle-aged and elderly individuals, including age, gender, marital status, education level, smoking and drinking habits, and the presence of hypertension. The study also assesses participants' mental health using the 10-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D10). A total of 11,519 individuals were included in this analysis. Among the 11,519 participants, 1671 were diagnosed with hypertension, while 9848 were not, resulting in a hypertension prevalence of 14.51%. A total of 4076 individuals scored ≥10 on the CES-D10, indicating a depression prevalence of 35.39%. Among those with hypertension, 704 were also diagnosed with depression, yielding a comorbidity rate of 42.13%, which is higher than the 34.13% observed in non-hypertensive participants. Further analysis identified age, smoking, widowhood or separation, and self-rated health status as independent risk factors for comorbid hypertension and depression. Hypertension have a higher risk of developing depression compared to the general population. Age, illiteracy, smoking, widowhood or separation are independent risk factors for comorbid hypertension and depression.