Key result
Financial strain, mental distress, poor BP control, and irregular care linked to worse QoL in hypertension.
Why the study?
The specific correlates of lower quality of life in primary care patients with hypertension have remained largely unclear.
Cross-Sectional (n=1,125)
In primary care patients with hypertension, factors such as poor blood pressure control, financial status, mental distress, and dietary habits are significantly correlated with quality of life.
Mental health and care satisfaction correlated with lower QoL in hypertension; leaves open whether targeting these improves outcomes in prospective studies.
BACKGROUND: Hypertension has been associated with lower levels of quality of life (QoL). However, the specific correlates of lower QoL in this patient population have remained largely unclear. METHODS: A cross-sectional design of 1,125 primary care patients with hypertension. We evaluated demographics, health status, subjective health and mental health, health behaviors, health beliefs, knowledge of hypertension treatment, satisfaction with medical care, and quality of medical care as potential predictors of QoL and perceived QoL in the hypothetical absence of hypertension. RESULTS: Worse financial status, poorer blood pressure control, worse subjective health, mental distress, lack of hypertension diet, and irregular hypertension care were all associated with worse QoL. Worse financial status, poorer blood pressure control, higher body mass index, mental distress, and following a hypertension diet were associated with better QoL in the hypothetical absence of hypertension. CONCLUSIONS: In addition to taking into consideration well known determinants of QoL, such as financial status, health status, and mental health, physicians need to be aware of the potential tradeoff between following medical recommendations that advocate for a strict diet and the impact these have on patients' QoL. Physicians also need to be aware of the effect of imparting information regarding imbalanced blood pressure on perceived QoL.
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Ayalon et al. (2006) conducted a cross-sectional in Hypertension (n=1,125). Clinical, sociodemographic, and behavioral factors was evaluated on Quality of life (QoL) and perceived QoL in the hypothetical absence of hypertension. Worse financial status, poorer blood pressure control, mental distress, lack of hypertension diet, and irregular care were associated with worse quality of life in hypertensive patients.
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