Age and Gender Differences in Psychological Distress among African Americans and Whites: Findings from the 2016 National Health Interview Survey

Background/Aims: Psychological conditions are increasingly linked with cardiovascular disorders. We aimed to examine the association between psychological distress and hypertension. Methods: We used data from the National Health Interview Survey for 2004-2013. Hypertension was self-reported and the 6-item Kessler Psychological Distress Scale was used to assess psychological distress (a score ≥13 indicated distress). We used a logistic regression model to test the assumption that hypertension was associated with psychological distress. Results: Among the study participants completing the survey (n = 288,784), 51% were female; the overall mean age (±SEM) was 35.3 ± 0.02 years and the mean body mass index was 27.5 ± 0.01. In the entire sample, the prevalence of psychological distress was 3.2%. The adjusted odds of reporting hypertension in psychologically distressed individuals was 1.53 (95% CI = 1.31-1.80, p = 0.01). Conclusion: The findings suggest that psychological distress is associated with higher odds of hypertension after adjusting for other risk factors for high blood pressure. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings and to elucidate the mechanisms by which stress increases hypertension risk.

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244 Psychological Distress and Chronic Kidney Disease among US Adults: Analysis of the National Health Interview Survey 2004-2013

American Journal of Kidney Diseases ◽

10.1053/j.ajkd.2020.02.246 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 75 (4) ◽

pp. 606

Keyword(s):

Chronic Kidney Disease ◽

Psychological Distress ◽

Kidney Disease ◽

National Health ◽

National Health Interview Survey ◽

Health Interview Survey ◽

Health Interview ◽

Interview Survey

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Psychological Distress and Alzheimer’s Disease Mortality in the United States: Results from the 1997–2014 National Health Interview Survey-National Death Index Record Linkage Study

Journal of Aging and Health ◽

10.1177/0898264320977309 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 089826432097730

Author(s):

Gopal K. Singh ◽

Hyunjung Lee

Keyword(s):

Alzheimer’S Disease ◽

Alzheimer's Disease ◽

Psychological Distress ◽

National Health ◽

Mortality Risk ◽

National Health Interview Survey ◽

National Death Index ◽

Health Interview Survey ◽

Disease Mortality ◽

Interview Survey

Objective: This study examines the association between psychological distress and Alzheimer’s disease mortality among US adults aged ≥45. Methods: We analyzed the Kessler 6-item psychological distress scale as a risk factor for Alzheimer’s mortality using the pooled 1997–2014 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS)- National Death Index (NDI) database ( N = 265,089). Cox regression was used to model mortality as a function of psychological distress and sociodemographic and behavioral covariates. Results: The Alzheimer’s mortality risk was 97% higher (HR = 1.97; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.37, 2.84) in adults with serious psychological distress compared with those without psychological distress, controlling for sociodemographic covariates. The relative mortality risk remained statistically significant (HR = 1.49; 95% CI = 1.04, 2.13) after additional adjustment for smoking, alcohol consumption, health status, activity limitation, and body mass index. Discussion: US adults had significantly higher risks of Alzheimer’s disease mortality at higher psychological distress levels. These findings underscore the significance of addressing psychological well-being as a strategy for reducing Alzheimer’s disease mortality.

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