Psychometric properties of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) in Peruvian adults with arterial hypertension

Abstract Objective The objective of this study was to Evaluate the psychometric properties of PHQ-9 in Peruvian adults with AHT. Methods Data from Encuesta Demográfica y de Salud Familiar 2019 (ENDES-2019) were used. The sample included 2915 participants diagnosed with AHT, assessed using PHQ-9. The bifactorial structure with two factors (somatic, cognitive/affective) was identified as the most parsimonious. Sex invariance analysis confirmed consistency in both groups. The network analysis highlighted items 2 and 7 as central, even with multivariate control for age and sex. Results The study supports the use of PHQ-9 in Peruvian individuals with AHT, showing good psychometric characteristics. Conclusion The findings confirm the reliability of the PHQ-9 questionnaire in the context of AHT in Peru.