Impact of hypertension on health-related quality of life in a population-based study in Shanghai, China.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between hypertension and health-related quality of life (HRQL) in a general representative Chinese population, and to explore the impacts of comorbidity on people with hypertension.


METHODS
Population-based cross-sectional survey.


METHODS
A self-administered questionnaire survey including demographic questions and the Mandarin version of 36-item Short Form (SF-36) was conducted in a general population in Shanghai, China. In total, 1034 subjects participated. The SF-36 dimension scores of hypertensive subjects were compared with those of normotensive subjects. Independent association of hypertension with each quality-of-life domain was analysed using a multiple linear regression model, so were the effects of comorbidity on the HRQL of hypertensive subjects.


RESULTS
Nine hundred and nineteen respondents were included in the analysis, and 16.97% reported hypertension. Respondents with hypertension scored lower than those without hypertension in at least five SF-36 dimensions. The dimension of role limitations due to physical problems was the most affected, whereas the mental health dimension was the least affected. Hypertensive subjects with comorbidity experienced lower SF-36 scores than hypertensive subjects without comorbidity.


CONCLUSIONS
Hypertension markedly impairs quality of life in terms of both physical and mental health. Comorbidity further deteriorates HRQL among people with hypertension. The findings suggest that people with hypertension represent a vulnerable population, and it is important to prevent and treat comorbidity of hypertension.
Wang
R
R
Department of Health Statistics, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.
Zhao
Y
Y
He
X
X
Ma
X
X
Yan
X
X
Sun
Y
Y
Liu
W
W
Gu
Z
Z
Zhao
J
J
He
J
J
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult