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. 2022 Apr;26(4):1289-1298.
doi: 10.1007/s10461-021-03486-4. Epub 2021 Oct 14.

Blood Pressure, Depression, and Suicidal Ideation Among Pregnant Women with HIV

Lissa N Mandell  1 , Manasi S Parrish  1 , Violeta J Rodriguez  1   2 , Maria L Alcaide  3 , Stephen M Weiss  1 , Karl Peltzer  4   5   6 , Deborah L Jones  7
Affiliations

Blood Pressure, Depression, and Suicidal Ideation Among Pregnant Women with HIV

Lissa N Mandell et al. AIDS Behav. 2022 Apr.

Abstract
in English, Spanish

Although prior research has examined associations between blood pressure (BP), depression, and suicidal ideation, few studies have examined this in high-risk populations such as pregnant women with HIV (WHIV). The current study examined the association of BP with depression and suicidal ideation among pregnant WHIV (n = 217) in rural South Africa. BP data (measured ≤ 1 month before the study visit) was extracted from medical records. Depressive symptomatology and suicidal ideation were assessed using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. Diastolic BP was positively associated with both suicidal ideation and depressive symptomatology, even after controlling for demographic variables, gestational age, and intimate partner violence. These findings suggest that WHIV with elevated BP may be at greater risk for antenatal depression and suicidal ideation. Future research should utilize longitudinal designs to examine potential mechanisms and the directionality of the relationship, as well as other contributing factors.

Aunque investigaciones anteriores han examinado las asociaciones entre la presión arterial (PA), depresión e ideación suicida, pocos estudios han examinado esto en poblaciones de alto riesgo, como las mujeres embarazadas con VIH. El estudio actual examinó la asociación de la PA con la depresión y la ideación suicida entre mujeres embarazadas con VIH (n = 217) en zonas rurales de Sudáfrica. Los datos de PA (medidos ≤ 1 mes antes de la visita del estudio) se extrajeron de los registros médicos. La sintomatología depresiva y la ideación suicida se evaluaron mediante la Escala de depresión posnatal de Edimburgo. La PA diastólica se asoció positivamente tanto con la ideación suicida como con la sintomatología depresiva, incluso después de controlar variables demográficas, edad gestacional y violencia de la pareja íntima. Estos hallazgos sugieren que mujeres embarazadas con VIH con PA elevada puede tener un mayor riesgo de depresión prenatal e ideación suicida. Las investigaciones futuras deberían aprovechar diseños longitudinales para examinar los posibles mecanismos y la direccionalidad de la relación, así como otros factores contribuyentes.

Keywords: Blood pressure; Depression; HIV; Pregnancy; Suicidal ideation.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.. Path model of blood pressure predicting suicidal ideation and depression.
Note. Values displayed in the format “β (SE)”. PregWks = weeks of pregnancy. PhysIPV = physical intimate partner violence. VerbIPV = psychological intimate partner violence. SBP = systolic blood pressure. DBP = diastolic blood pressure. SI = suicidal ideation. DEP = depression.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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