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Perceived symptoms and health-related quality of life reported by uncomplicated hypertensive patients compared to normal controls

Journal of Human Hypertension volume 15, pages 539–548 (2001)Cite this article

Abstract

Objectives: This study compared the prevalence and intensity of symptoms and the health-related quality of life (HQL) of patients taking antihypertensive medications and patients without disease.

Methods: This cross-sectional study used surveys mailed to patient’s homes. All consecutive patients over age 30 years attending either a general medicine or hypertension clinic during 3 months were eligible (n = 437). Hypertension group (HTN-G) patients were diagnosed with primary hypertension, prescribed antihypertensive medications, and had no other symptomatic conditions or drug therapies. Control group (CNTL-G) patients were seen in the general medicine clinic and had no chronic symptomatic conditions or drug therapies. Measures included the Symptom Distress Checklist (SDC, list of 51 symptoms, frequency, and level of distress), the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 (SF-36), medications, blood pressures, and other data obtained from medical records and patient self-report.

Results:A total of 222 patients responded (46% CNTL-G, 55% HTN-G). HTN-G patients were somewhat older (59.0 ± 11.2 vs 48.5 ± 11.7 years, P = 0.001) and had a higher percent of minorities (24.8% vs 13.5%, P = 0.02), but otherwise similar. After adjusting for age and race differences, HTN-G patients reported significantly more symptoms (8.8 ± 7.8 vs 4.7 ± 4.8, P = 0.001) and related distress (32.2 ± 4.2 vs 12.0 ± 18.2, P = 0.001) as well as lower scores (reduced HQL) for most of the SF-36 domains. In general, hypertensive patients had more physical, but not mental symptoms than control patients.

Conclusions: Hypertensive patients receiving antihypertensive medications have more symptoms and lower HQL. Differences were detected by both a brief, general HQL instrument and a detailed, disease-specific instrument. Routine screening of treated hypertensive patients using a brief HQL questionnaire to detect physical symptoms may prove feasible and useful.

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Acknowledgements

Funding for this project was made available from the Clinical Research Resources Committee Grant administered by the University of Michigan College of Pharmacy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Michigan, College of Pharmacy, MI, USA

    SR Erickson

  2. Department of Internal Medicine, Ann Arbor Veterans Administration Medical Center and University of Michigan Health System, MI, USA

    BC Williams

  3. Department of Medical Education, University of Michigan, Medical School, MI, USA

    LD Gruppen

Authors
  1. SR Erickson
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  2. BC Williams
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  3. LD Gruppen
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to SR Erickson.

Appendix 1: Symptom distress checklist factors and component items

Appendix 1: Symptom distress checklist factors and component items

Table A1

=Table A1 Comparisons of symptom frequency between hypertensive with medication and control groups
Full size table

Table A2

=Table A2 Comparison of the symptom distress level reported for each symptom
Full size table

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Erickson, S., Williams, B. & Gruppen, L. Perceived symptoms and health-related quality of life reported by uncomplicated hypertensive patients compared to normal controls. J Hum Hypertens 15, 539–548 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jhh.1001236

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