Comorbidities and the quality of life in hypertensive patients

INTRODUCTION An important factor influencing the perception of health‑related quality of life (HRQoL) is the presence of chronic diseases, especially polymorbidity. However, little is known about how concurrent chronic diseases influence the HRQoL of hypertensive patients.
OBJECTIVES The primary aim of the study was to assess the relationship between comorbidities and different aspects of HRQoL in a large unselected cohort of patients undergoing treatment for hypertension.
PATIENTS AND METHODS A questionnaire‑based study was conducted by 832 primary care physicians in a group of 12,525 unselected patients treated for hypertension for at least 3 months. HRQoL was evaluated using the Medical Outcomes Study 12‑item Short‑Form Health Survey (SF‑12).
RESULTS Coexisting diseases were reported in 7986 patients (63.8%). Significantly lower HRQoL values were associated with coexisting diseases, especially obstructive respiratory disease, degenerative disc disease, radiculopathy, coronary artery disease, heart failure, stroke, diabetes, epilepsy, neurotic disorders, and mood disorders. The HRQoL of hypertensive patients decreased significantly with age and duration of antihypertensive therapy (>2 years). HRQoL values were higher for men and participants with higher education and lower for participants who were obese or had visceral obesity. Antihypertensive therapy was effective in 25.4% of the participants.
CONCLUSIONS Chronic diseases concomitant with arterial hypertension negatively affect all dimensions of the HRQoL.