Emotional expressiveness, hostility and blood pressure in a longitudinal cohort of Alzheimer caregivers.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the interactive effect of chronic stress and emotional expressiveness (EE) on blood pressure (BP) in older adults.

METHOD: Among spousal caregivers (n=111) of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients, BP was assessed at home by a visiting nurse every 6 months for 7 years. Caregiving demands, EE, social desirability and hostility were also assessed.

RESULTS

State hostility was more prevalent among newer caregivers and those encountering more dementia problem behaviors and ADL limitations but unrelated to BP or BP change (P>.05). In a cross-sectional analysis, higher diastolic BP was associated with more spousal problem behaviors and being less emotionally expressive (P<.05). Longitudinal (growth curve analysis) increases in diastolic BP were predicted by providing more spousal ADL assistance (P<.05) but not by EE.

CONCLUSION

Both caregiving stress and low EE may contribute independently to hypertension risk in the elderly.