ABSTRACT
Objective: To evaluate the association between hypertension and β-blocker (BB) use and antepartum depression risk. Patients and Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of women who delivered within our integrated
health system between 2009 and 2015, and completed an Edinburgh Postnatal
Depression Scale (EPDS) during pregnancy. Increased depression risk was defined
as EPDS score ≥ 10, or an affirmative answer to question ten, endorsing
self-harm. Antepartum hypertension was determined by blood pressure
measurements and provider ICD-9 codes. Regression analyses examined the independent
associations of BB use and hypertension on antepartum depression risk. Results: Of
9192 deliveries during the study time frame, 5% were hypertensive. Within the
hypertensive group, 103 (22%) used a single agent BB (BB Group), 325 (68%)
required no antihypertensive medication (No-Med Group), and 48 (10%) used a
non-BB single agent or multi-agent therapy (All-Other Group). After adjusting
for covariates, compared to normotensive pregnancies, antepartum hypertension
was significantly associated with both EPDS score ≥ 10 (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]
1.61, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.17 - 2.21)
and endorsement of self-harm (aOR 1.76, 95% CI 1.05 - 2.95).
In further analyses of depression risk in hypertensive pregnancies, there was
no difference between the BB Group and No-Med Group (EPDS score ≥ 10, aOR 1.22,
95% CI 0.56 - 2.63; self-harm, aOR 0.84, 95% CI 0.32 - 2.21),
or between the All-Other Group and No-Med Group (EPDS ≥ 10, aOR
1.42, 95% CI 0.57 - 3.54; self-harm, aOR 1.04, 95% CI 0.29 - 3.74). Conclusion: Women with antepartum hypertension have increased risk for depression and
thoughts of self-harm. β-Blocker use
is not associated with further increased risk.
Share and Cite:
McCarthy, A. , Zhou, Y. , Adams, M. , Elue, R. , Diaz, N. and Plunkett, B. (2018) Association of Hypertension and
β-Blocker Use with Depression during Pregnancy.
Open Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology,
8, 925-935. doi:
10.4236/ojog.2018.811094.