Association between family functioning and depression in adult patients with hypertension attending the family medicine clinic of a tertiary hospital in Southern Nigeria

Background: Depression is a mental disorder that has become an increasingly important health problem. Depressive symptoms are common in chronic medical illnesses like hypertension, although they are usually not recognised and not treated. Family functioning affects the outcome of chronic diseases like hypertension, and it is an important aspect of care often neglected by Physicians. This study aimed to determine the association between family functioning and depression among adult patients with hypertension attending the Family Medicine Clinic of Rivers State University Teaching Hospital.

Materials and Methods: This was a hospital-based cross-sectional study involving 312 adult hypertensive patients selected by systematic random sampling. Questionnaires were used to collect information on the sociodemographic characteristics, family functioning, and depression status of participants. The results were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.

Results: Good family function was found in 81.7% of the participants and the prevalence of depression was 26.6%. Participants with dysfunctional families were 9.3 times more likely to have depression when compared to those with functional families (P<0.001). Good family function was strongly associated with milder levels of depression (P=0.02).

Conclusion: Depression is more likely to exist and be more severe in hypertensive patients who lack good family function. Physicians should screen for depression and family functioning in hypertensive patients, for early detection, holistic management, and better health outcomes.