Incorporating Patients’ Social Determinants of Health into Hypertension and Depression Care: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

The objective of this study was to carry out a randomized controlled pilot trial to test the effectiveness of an integrated intervention for hypertension and depression incorporating patients’ social determinants of health (enhanced intervention) versus an integrated intervention alone (basic intervention). In all, 54 patients were randomized. An electronic monitor was used to measure blood pressure, and the nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) assessed depressive symptoms. Patients in the enhanced intervention had a significantly improved PHQ-9 mean change from baseline in comparison with patients in the basic intervention group at 12 weeks (p = 0.024). Patients in the enhanced intervention had a significantly improved systolic and diastolic blood pressure mean change from baseline in comparison with patients in the basic intervention group at 12 weeks (p = 0.003 and p = 0.019, respectively). Our pilot trial results indicate integrated care management that addresses the social determinants of health for patients with hypertension and depression may be effective.