ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the change of plasma ghrelin level and explore the related factors of ghrelin alteration in elderly hypertensive patients with psychological distress. Methods A total of 300 elders, who were screened with Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA), Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD), and the Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90) for psychological stress and somato-psychological manifestations respectively, were divided into hypertension group (n=148) and non-hypertension group (n=152). Their blood samples were collected to measure the plasma level of ghrelin and total cortisol on the same day. Results The incidences of anxiety and depression were 27.7% and 11.7%, respectively, in all the enrolled elders. However, the rates of psychological distress, particularly anxiety, were significantly higher in the hypertensive elders than in the non-hypertensive ones (43.2% vs. 12.5%). Anxiety was positively related to the cortisol level but negatively related to the plasma ghrelin level, and the latter two were negatively correlated with each other. Conclusion Chronic increase of plasma cortisol induced by long-term anxiety can lead to the reduction of ghrelin level, which then adversely affects blood pressure in elders with psychological distress. Therefore, ghrelin might be a selective antihypertensive medicine for hypertensive elders with anxiety.