Impact of hypertension on health-related quality of life in a population-based study in Shanghai, China

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between hypertension and health-related quality of life (HRQL) in a general representative Chinese population, and to explore the impacts of comorbidity on people with hypertension. Study design: Population-based cross-sectional survey. Methods: A self-administered questionnaire survey including demographic questions and the Mandarin version of 36-item Short Form (SF-36) was conducted in a general population in Shanghai, China. In total, 1034 subjects participated. The SF-36 dimension scores of hypertensive subjects were compared with those of normotensive subjects. Independent association of hypertension with each quality-of-life domain was analysed using a multiple linear regression model, so were the effects of comorbidity on the HRQL of hypertensive subjects. Results: Nine hundred and nineteen respondents were included in the analysis, and 16.97% reported hypertension. Respondents with hypertension scored lower than those without hypertension in at least five SF-36 dimensions. The dimension of role limitations due to physical problems was the most affected, whereas the mental health dimension was the least affected. Hypertensive subjects with comorbidity experienced lower SF-36 scores than hypertensive subjects without comorbidity. Conclusions: Hypertension markedly impairs quality of life in terms of both physical and mental health. Comorbidity further deteriorates HRQL among people with hypertension. The findings suggest that people with hypertension represent a vulnerable population, and it is important to prevent and treat comorbidity of hypertension. (C) 2009 The Royal Society for Public Health. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.