The impact of co-morbid conditions on the SF-36: A primary-care-based study among hypertensives

Background. Comorbidities in hypertension complicate the course causing more symptoms and deterioration in a patient's daily life. The aim of this present study is to describe the effect of comorbid conditions on health-related quality of life (HRQL) in hypertensive patients. Methods. The study was carried out in four different regions of Turkey by 156 general practitioners between October 1999 and April 2000. In addition to cardiological evaluation, SF-36 health survey questionnaire was used for quality of life measurement. Diagnosis of comorbid conditions were anamnesis based. Results. The mean age of the group (n = 938) was 58.1 +/- 11.2, and 58.6% (n = 550) of the group was female. Total scores of the eight domains of SF-36 were lower than the normal population scores. Age and gender affected every domain of SF-36 scale negatively. Heart failure affected four of the domains, primarily physical domains. Previous transient ischemic attack was responsible for low HRQL in emotional role difficulties, vitality, and mental health, but previous stroke had an impact on physical functioning and emotional role. Previous myocardial infarction affected emotional role difficulties negatively whereas previous CABG surgery had a positive impact on the same domain. Obesity and angina pectoris affected physical functioning negatively, whereas peripheral arterial disease caused low general health perception. Nephropathy, retinopathy and diabetes had no impact on HRQL in hypertension. Conclusions. When the contribution of comorbid conditions is taken into consideration, it can be noticed that the impact of every other condition is similar to the same condition when it is pure. Hypertension per se seems to cause less impairment than expected in HRQL. (c) 2005 IMSS. Published by Elsevier Inc.