ASSOCIATION BETWEEN MEDICATION ADHERENCE, PHYSICAL SYMPTOM, AND DEPRESSION IN ELDERLY INDIVIDUAL HYPERTENSION IN INDONESIA

HUBUNGAN ANTARA KEPATUHAN PENGOBATAN, GEJALA FISIK, DAN DEPRESI PADA LANSIA DENGAN HIPERTENSI DI INDONESIA

Abstract

Introduction: Depression is a common comorbidity among older adults with hypertension. Physical symptoms such as headache and fatigue, as well as behavioral factors like medication adherence, may influence depressive symptoms. However, evidence among Indonesian hypertensive older adults is limited. This study examined the association between medication adherence, headache, fatigue, and depression using data from the 2023 Indonesian Health Survey. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using secondary data from 20,865 adults aged ≥60 years diagnosed with hypertension. Depression and physical symptoms were self-reported. Chi-square tests were used to assess associations between depression and medication adherence, headache, and fatigue. Results: The prevalence of depression was 5.7%. Depression was significantly associated with headache (p < 0.001) and fatigue (p < 0.001). Medication adherence was not significantly associated with depression (p = 0.171), although non-adherent individuals showed slightly higher depressive symptoms. Conclusion: Headache and fatigue were strongly associated with depression among hypertensive older adults, highlighting the importance of addressing somatic symptoms in mental health assessments. Although medication adherence showed no significant association, its role should be explored further using multivariable analysis. Integrated physical and mental healthcare approaches are recommended for this population.