THE CHANGE IN QUALITY OF LIFE IN DRUG TREATED HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS AFTER 10 YEARS OF ANTIHYPERTENSIVE TREATMENT

Abstract

Objective: To study the change in quality of life in Finnish drug-treated hypertensive patients after ten years of antihypertensive treatment. Design and method: In the beginning the patients participated in a six-month study where their antihypertensive treatment was titrated either by using home or 24 hour ambulatory measurement. Thereafter they have been in the ordinary out-patient care. SF-36 questionnaire was filled out by 44 patients (23 females and 21 males, aged 66.1 (6.1), 55–77 years) in the beginning and after 10.6 (2.9) (6–13) years of antihypertensive treatment. All of them used at least one antihypertensive agent. Results: The mean (SD) SF-36 questionnaire scores after about 10 years of antihypertensive treatment were (maximum 100): Physical functioning 78.5 (19.9), role-physical 72.6 (34.0), bodily pain 68.1 (22.2), general health 64.5 (16.2), vitality 68.6 (15.8), social functioning 90.1 (19.0), role-emotional 76.0 (35.9), mental health 84.5 (14.4) and general health 3.2 (0.7). Compared to the same age Americans social functioning and mental health were higher (better) in our treated hypertensive patients. During 10 years of antihypertensive treatment physical functioning decreased significantly 4.8 (14.4) (p = 0.039). Instead, vitality 6.3 (18.6) (p = 0.032), social functioning 6.1 (17.5) (p = 0.028) and mental health 4.5 (11.7) (p = 0.030) increased significantly. Other parameters did not change significantly. Conclusions: According to our results physical functioning decreased and vitality, social functioning and mental health increased during 10 years of antihypertensive treatment. The decrease in physical functioning is probably explained by aging, because physical function decreases in normal population about 0.5/life year. Perhaps, good antihypertensive treatment explains the increase in those three mental parameters. Thus, it seems that according to the SF 36 questionnaire quality of life in Finnish treated hypertensive patients is quite good and do not decrease significantly during ageing.