Arterial hypertension and changes in levels of perceived stress: analysis of a cohort study in Peru

Alejandro A.-R.L.; Wilmer G.-G.J.; Antonio B.-O. · Revista del Cuerpo Medico Hospital Nacional Almanzor Aguinaga Asenjo (2025) · DOI: 10.35434/rcmhnaaa.2025.182.2796

Resumen

Introduction: Arterial hypertension seems to have an impact on mental health, and there are no longitudinal studies in our context that have evaluated this association. Objective: To evaluate the association between hypertension and changes in the levels of perceived stress in adults aged 30-69 years in the Tumbes region. Materials and Methods: Secondary analysis of data from a longitudinal population-based study. The dependent variable was the level of perceived stress assessed by Cohen's 14-item scale (low, medium and high according to tertiles), whereas the presence of arterial hypertension, the independent variable, was defined according to JNC-7 criteria. The association of interest was assessed both at the beginning of the cohort and during follow-up using crude and adjusted Poisson regression models in both cases. Results: Of the 1609 participants, mean age 48.2 (SD: 10.6), 810 (50.3%) women, 25.9% (95% CI: 21.1% - 30.6%) had hypertension at the beginning of the cohort. In the multivariate model, at the beginning of the cohort, the presence of hypertension was associated with a high level of perceived stress (PR=1.09; 95% CI: 1.02–1.17). However, in the longitudinal analysis, although there was an increase in the incidence of high levels of perceived stress, this finding was not significant (RR=1.03; 0.95–1.33). Conclusions: Hypertension is associated with higher levels of perceived stress at the beginning of the cohort, but not significantly in the longitudinal analysis. Our results suggest the need to assess mental health in patients with arterial hypertension.

Instituciones: Universidad Científica del Sur