Quality of life and comorbidity index in patients with arterial hypertension and comorbidities

Objective. To study quality of life and comorbidity index in patients with arterial hypertension and comorbidities. Material and methods. The study included 110 patients of both sexes aged 30—69 years with arterial hypertension (AH) and one of two chronic non-communicable diseases (CNCDs): type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in remission. All patients were divided into three groups: AH patients (Group 1, n=40, mean age 56.4±8.80 years), AH and type 2 DM (Group 2, n=35, 60.91±5.39 years), AH and COPD (Group 3, n=35, 58.97±8.23 years). Quality of life was assessed using the European questionnaire EQ-5D-3L. The comorbidity index was determined using the Charlson Comorbidity Index. Results. The EQ-5D-3L questionnaire showed that quality of life was reduced in patients with AH and type 2 DM and with AH and COPD due to components «mobility», «pain/discomfort», and «anxiety/depression». Assessment by EQ visual analog scale showed that when comparing data of Group 1 patients (AH), Group 2 (AH and type 2 DM) and Group 3 (AH and COPD) self-rated health was statistically significantly higher in Group 1 patients without comorbidity (75.63±11.86 points, 67.71±9.80 points, 73.86±9.16 points, p<0.001). Analysis of the predicted 10-year survival in AH patients using the Charlson Comorbidity Index demonstrated that very high comorbidity (21% survival rate) was more common among males (n=14) and females (n=15) in Group 2 (AH and type 2 DM). Male (n=6) and female (n=5) patients with high comorbidity (53% survival rate) were identified in Group 3 (AH and COPD). Moderate (77% survival) and low (over 90% survival) comorbidity were the least common. Conclusion. Concomitant type 2 diabetes mellitus and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease adversely affected the patients with arterial hypertension, reduced quality of life, and worsened 10-year survival prognosis.