Hypertension and health-related quality of life: an epidemiological study in Sweden

• Published in: Journal of clinical epidemiology Vol. 54; no. 2; pp. 172 - 181
• Main Authors: Bardage, Carola, Isacson, Dag G.L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.02.2001; Elsevier
• Subjects: Activities of Daily Living; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Angina Pectoris - complications; Arterial hypertension. Arterial hypotension; Biological and medical sciences; Blood and lymphatic vessels; Cardiology. Vascular system; Clinical manifestations. Epidemiology. Investigative techniques. Etiology; Comorbidity; Diabetes Complications; Female; General population; Health Status; Health-related quality of life; Humans; Hypertension; Hypertension - complications; Hypertension - epidemiology; Hypertension - psychology; Linear Models; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Myocardial Infarction - complications; Quality of Life; Risk Factors; Role; SF-36 Health Survey; Social Behavior; Socioeconomic Factors; Stroke - complications; Surveys and Questionnaires; Sweden - epidemiology; Sweden; Europe; Hypertension; Health-related quality of life; General population; SF-36 Health Survey; Comorbidity; Human; Evaluation; Questionnaire; Cardiovascular disease; Epidemiology; Public health; Quality of life
• ISSN: 0895-4356; 1878-5921
• DOI: 10.1016/S0895-4356(00)00293-6

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.