title: Hypertension in the Lebanese adults: impact on health related quality of life.
abstract: Cardiovascular disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, hypertension being one of their most prevalent risk factors. Information on health related quality of life (QOL) of hypertensive individuals in Lebanon is lacking. Our objectives were to evaluate QOL of hypertensive patients compared with non-hypertensive subjects and to suggest possible predictors of QOL in Lebanon. We conducted a case control study among individuals visiting outpatient clinics. Quality of life was assessed using the eight item (SF-8) questionnaire administered face to face to the study population, applied to hypertensive (N=224) and non-hypertensive control (N=448) groups. Hypertensive patients presented lower QOL scores in all domains, particularly in case of high administration frequency and occurrence of drug related side effects. Among hypertensive patients, QOL was significantly decreased with the presence of comorbidities (β=-13.865, p=0.054), daily frequency of antihypertensive medications (β=-8.196, p<0.001), presence of drug side-effects (β=-19.262, p=0.031), older age (β=-0.548, p<0.001), female gender (β=-21.363, p=0.05), lower education (β=-22.949, p=0.006), and cigarettes smoked daily (β=-0.726, p<0.001); regular sport activity (β=23.15, p<0.001) significantly increased quality of life. These findings indicate the necessity for health professionals to take these factors into account when treating hypertensive patients, and to tackle special subgroups with attention to their deteriorated QOL.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Epidemiological and Clinical Research, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon.
authors.forename: Malak
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khalifeh
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Epidemiological and Clinical Research, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon. Electronic address: pascalesalameh1@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Pascale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Salameh
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Epidemiological and Clinical Research, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon. Electronic address: amalkeh@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Amal Al
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Hajje
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Epidemiological and Clinical Research, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon. Electronic address: sanaa_awada@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Sanaa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Awada
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Epidemiological and Clinical Research, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon. Electronic address: samar.rachidi@outlook.com.
authors.forename: Samar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rachidi
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Epidemiological and Clinical Research, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon. Electronic address: w.bawab@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Wafa
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Bawab
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007861:Lebanon / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Hypertension; Lebanese population; Quality of life; Risk factors; SF-8