Assessment of health related quality of life in hypertensive patients in rural population of guntur district in south india

Author: 
Sushmitha. K., Bhavana Krishna. B., Mahima Chowdary. B and Maneesh Kumar Reddy. M

Background: Hypertension is considered as one of the leading causes of death and disability, and its prevalence is rapidly increasing in developing countries. Adequate treatment of high blood pressure lowers the cardiovascular risk and other complications like vascular disease, and chronic kidney disease. However, the major problem for controlling hypertension is compliance with treatment
Aim and Objectives: To study and assess the quality of life in patients suffering from hypertension.
Methodology: A prospective observational cohort study was conducted for a period of 6 months in a rural area of Guntur. A total of 300 hypertensive patients who are newly diagnosed or suffering from hypertension since 3 years were recruited. Blood pressure was measured by using a sphygmomanometer and other demographics were collected. Health related quality of life was assessed by using 36-item short form (SF-36) and respective scores were calculated.
Results: By using SF-36 questionnaire Physical health (49.4) was the component mostly effected in hypertensive patients followed by Vitality (61.75), emotional aspects (69.06), pain (67.3), social functioning (78.54), appear to be least effected.
Conclusion: Proper treatment and awareness about hypertension is necessary to improve patient’s quality of life. Good compliance not only improves the clinical outcomes, it is also having a great impact on improving quality of life and reducing health care costs which are due to complication and co-morbidities of hypertension.

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DOI: 
http://dx.doi.org/10.24327/ijcar.2018.8907.1452
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