PONE-D-24-04651Systematic review and meta-analysis on the prevalence and associated factors of depression among hypertensive patients in EthiopiaPLOS ONE

Dear Dr. tassew,

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Reviewer #1: Yes

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Reviewer #1: Yes

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Reviewer #1: Yes

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Reviewer #1: Yes

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5. Review Comments to the Author

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Reviewer #1: The manuscript "Systematic review and meta-analysis on the prevalence and associated factors

of depression among hypertensive patients in Ethiopia" investigates the prevalence and factors associated with depression among hypertensive patients in Ethiopia through a systematic review and meta-analysis. The researchers collected data from various databases and analyzed it using statistical methods. The findings showed that the pooled prevalence of depression among hypertensive patients in Ethiopia was 32.43%. Factors associated with depression included being female, having comorbid illnesses, poor blood pressure control, a family history of depression, being single, and poor social support. The study suggests that improving the linkage between psychobehavioral treatment and psychiatric units could lead to better clinical outcomes for depressed hypertensive patients.

Here is my feedback:

1. This systematic review demonstrates exemplary writing and methodological rigor. However, minor adjustments warrant attention.

2. “For those who are depressed, improving the psycho-behavioral treatment linkage with the psychiatric unit can result in improved clinical outcomes” Kindly append a period (.) to the conclusion of the abstract.

3. The authors have presented a thorough literature review. However, it is necessary to incorporate a paragraph discussing the bidirectional impact of depression and hypertension, particularly drawing from the findings of studies conducted in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

4. Figure 1 requires revision and redesign as it is of poor quality. Additionally, adjusting the left margin of the figure will enhance its clarity and understanding.

5. In the discussion section, kindly conduct a comparative analysis of your findings with those obtained from other low-income countries (LICs) such as Afghanistan.

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Reviewer #1: No

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Systematic review and meta-analysis on the prevalence and associated factors of depression among hypertensive patients in Ethiopia

PONE-D-24-04651R1

Dear Dr. tassew,

We’re pleased to inform you that your manuscript has been judged scientifically suitable for publication and will be formally accepted for publication once it meets all outstanding technical requirements.

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Kind regards,

Ahmad Neyazi

Guest Editor

PLOS ONE

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