An assessment of the
quality of
life was carried out among
101 patients undergoing treatment for mild to moderate
hypertension at Ile-Ife.
The mean
symptom Complaint rate was 23.7 +
16.5 % while the mean health status index was 88.3 + 13.7. The
differences in the quality of life indices of patients on single and multiple
antihypertensive drugs was not statistically significant (P>0.05).
Patients on
diuretics had a high symptom complaint rate
(33.9 + 20.9%). However, the health status index of patients on
diuretics was significantly higher compared to those on ACE inhibitors
(P<0.05). Quality of life indices worsen with increasing age with the
highest symptom complaint rate (28.6 + 17.3%) found in patients between
70 and 79 years of age.
The findings show that antihypertensive therapy has
significant effects on the quality of life and that these can be meaningfully
assessed with available psychosocial measures.