Hypertension and health-related quality of life. an epidemiological study in Sweden.
The aim of this study was to describe the relationship between hypertension and health-related quality of life (HRQL) in a Swedish general population using the 36-item short form questionnaire (SF-36). The study is based on a postal questionnaire that was sent to a random sample of 8000 inhabitants aged 20-84 years (response rate 68%) in Uppsala County, Sweden, in 1995. The results showed that those with hypertension scored lower in the linear regression analyses in most of the eight domains of the SF-36 than those without hypertension after controlling for age, sex, sociodemographic factors, and comorbidity. Diabetes and angina pectoris were related to lower scores in most of the domains of the SF-36. Previous myocardial infarction was associated with lower general health and vitality. Those with a previous stroke had lower scores in physical functioning, general health, vitality, and social functioning. The findings suggest that hypertensives represent a vulnerable population that merits special attention from health care providers and systems. This is especially important given that low HRQL can be a risk factor for subsequent cardiovascular events or complications.
Bardage
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Department of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Services Research, BMC Box 586, S-751 23 Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden. Carola.Bardage@samfarm.uu.se
Isacson
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D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000150:complications; D015897:Comorbidity; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000150:complications; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D012380:Role; D012919:Social Behavior; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology