Association between Uncontrolled Hypertension Status and Quality of Life in Hypertensive Patients

Uncontrolled hypertension state is a major public health problem that may influence different quality of life aspects in hypertensive patients. The present study aimed to assess the effect of hypertension control status upon quality of life in Iranian hypertensive patients. Hypertensive patients in the present case-control designed study were identified from a district-wide, population-based register [Isfahan Healthy Heart Program (IHHP)]. Patients in two case groups had a diagnosis of controlled (n=314) or uncontrolled (n=1346) hypertension and those in the control group were healthy without symptomatic diseases or treatments (n=7718). The World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL)-BREF was used to assess general quality of life. The score of all four physical, psychological, social, and environmental components were far lower in the uncontrolled group compared to the controlled hypertensive group and healthy group, with no apparent difference between the patients with controlled hypertension and those with healthy status. The value of systolic blood pressure was adversely correlated with the physical component score. A negative association was revealed between the value of diastolic blood pressure and physical, psychological, and environmental component scores. According to the linear regression model, poorer quality of life could be predicted by uncontrolled hypertension status (Beta = -2.074, Standard Error = 0.798; P= 0.009). Uncontrolled hypertensive patients are faced with lower physical, psychological, environmental, and social domains of quality of life, as compared to normal controls or to those with controlled hypertension.