The assessment of hypertensive patients‘ life quality according to SF-36 questionnaire

Abstract

Background The estimation of life quality in patients with uncomplicated and complicated arterial hypertension. The assessment of quality of life (QoL) correlation with SCORE value in the group of uncomplicated arterial hypertension.
Material and methods 96 patients (38 women and 58 men) were examined, in the age between 40 and 65. Uncomplicated hypertension (A): 20 women (X1), 30 men (Y1) and complicated hypertension (B): 18 women (X2) and 28 men (Y2). The quality of life (QoL) was measured by SF-36 questionnaire. The risk of cardiovascular death was estimated by SCORE scale. The body mass index (kg/m²), waist circumference (cm), total cholesterol level (mg/dl) and blood pressure (mm Hg) were examined. The percentage of smokers and the number of pills taken per day were estimated. The Mann-Whitney test and Spearman correlation were used for the statistical analysis.
Results We revealed statistically significant differences between the means: quality of life (pts) in groups: A (65,7) and B (40,4); X1 (62,3) and X2 (34,5); Y1 (69,0) and Y2 (44,2); cholesterol level (mg/dl) in groups: X1 (223,7) and X2 (236,6); Y1 (229,2) and Y2 (215,1); percentage of smokers in groups: A (60%) and B (43,5%); X1 (50%) and X2 (33.3%); Y1 (66,7%) and Y2 (50%); systolic blood pressure (mm Hg) in groups: A (141,8) and B (147,9); X1 (140,8) and X2 (146,4); Y1 (142,8) and Y2 (149,5); diastolic blood pressure (mm Hg) in groups: A (87,75) and B (93,9); X1 (87,3) and X2 (92,8); Y1 (88,3) and Y2 (94,9); the number of pills taken per day in groups: A (3,5) and B (6,5); X1 (5,0) and X2 (8,0); Y1 (2,0) and Y2 (5,0); SCORE values in groups: X1 (3,70) and Y1 (7,43). We revealed the correlation between the QoL and SCORE in the group of women with uncomplicated arterial hypertension.
Conclusions
1. The risk of cardiovascular death - SCORE is statistically lower in the group of women with uncomplicated hypertension than in the group of men and there is a correlation between the QoL and SCORE value.
2. The QoL in the group of uncomplicated hypertension is statistically higher than in the group of complicated hypertension.
3. The QoL in the group of women with hypertension (uncomplicated and complicated) is statistically lower than equivalent groups of men. 4. There is need of interdisciplinary approach to hypertension and primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular diseases with special attention to women.