Quality of life in treated hypertension: a case-control community based study.
The aim of this case-control community study was to determine whether there was a difference in quality of life between hypertensive subjects and matched normotensive controls. Cases aged 40-79 years were randomly selected from a hypertensive register and matched with controls for age, sex, ethnicity and health centre. Cases had phase V diastolic blood pressure (DBP) > or = 100 mm Hg or systolic blood pressure (SBP) > or = 180 mm Hg, or were on anti-hypertensive medication. Controls had DBP < or = 90 mm Hg and no record of raised BP or anti-hypertensive treatment within the past year. Quality of life was measured by self-administered questionnaire. Data from 90 matched pairs, average age 62 years, with 47% men, were analysed; 80 hypertensive subjects were on anti-hypertensive medication. Hypertensive subjects showed an impairment in well-being compared with controls. They had a lower Health Status Index, had more sickness absence from work, greater symptomatic complaint and impaired psychological well-being. Relatives also reported a poorer quality of life in the hypertensive subjects. This impairment could be a result of the disease, adverse effects of drug treatment or to the effects of labelling.
Battersby
C
C
Division of Geriatric Medicine, Royal Postgraduate Medical School, London, UK.
Hartley
K
K
Fletcher
A F
AF
Markowe
H J
HJ
Styles
W
W
Sapper
H
H
Bulpitt
C J
CJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001794:Blood Pressure; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents