Objective: Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in hypertensive patients may be influenced by the presence and the knowledge of disease, beliefs associated with the disease, blood pressure (BP) control, and drug utilization. The impact of hypertension on HRQOL in hypertensive patients compared to the normal population has not been assessed in Nigeria, the most populous country in sub-Saharan Africa. This study compares HRQOL in hypertensive patients and the normal population; the effect of BP control and medication on HRQOL of hypertensive patients is also assessed.
Materials and methods: A prospective cross-sectional study of 713 individuals, 606 were hypertensive patients attending the University College Hospital in Oyo State, Nigeria, while 107 were normal persons residing in Ibadan. Data on sociodemographic status, clinical variables, and drug utilization were collected. World health organization-quality of life short version (WHO-QOL-BREF) questionnaires were used to assess HRQOL of participants.
Results: Hypertensive patients had poorer HRQOL compared with normal individuals in the physical health (p<0.05), psychological (p<0.01), and total quality of life domains. Blood pressure control had no effect on HRQOL in domain (p>0.05). Drug use significantly worsened HRQOL of hypertensive patients in the psychological (p˂0.01), social relationship (p<0.01), and the total quality of life domains (p<0.01). Multiple regression analysis showed that while income per month was positively predictive of physical, psychological, and total quality of life domains (r2=1.988, p=0.001; r2=3.710, p<0.001; r2=2.748, p<0.001), symptom count was negatively predictive of the same (r2=-0.746, p=0.005; r2=1.869, p<0.001; and r2=-1.094; p<0.001), respectively. Reduced symptoms and higher income improved quality of life in hypertensive patients.
Conclusion: The presence of hypertension and antihypertensive medication reduced HRQOL of hypertensive patients, although BP control surprisingly did not impact HRQOL. However, lower symptom count and higher income improved quality of life.