Evaluating the socio-demographic, economic and clinical (SDEC) factors on health related quality of life (HRQoL) of hypertensive patients using EQ-5D-5L scoring algorithm

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the various socio-demographic, economic, and clinical variables (SDECVs) which influence the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of hypertensive patients. Three hundred and fifty hypertensive patients participated in this study through a structured questionnaire and EQ 5D 5L. 211(60.28%) participants had stage 1, and 139 (39.7%) had stage 2 hypertension. No participants reported severe problems in any domain on EQ 5D 5L. Generalize Linear Model (GLM) was used to assess the association between HRQoL and SDECVs. The mean utility and VAS score was 0.64 (±0.15) and 63.17 (±11.01) respectively. The participants of the stage 1 hypertension group had a significantly better score on each domain of EQ 5D 5L as compared to stage 1 (0.027, 0.010, 0.00, 0.00, 0.048). No participant in either group reported extreme problems in any domain. Among socio-demographic factors, the males, non-smokers, income sharing, and healthy normal hypertensive patients had better HRQoL (0.009, 0.016, 0.019, and 0.003). A lower cost of treatment was also associated with better HRQoL (0.017). Among clinical variables, stage 1 hypertension had better HRQoL than stage 2(0.035). The number of prescribed antihypertensive drugs had no effect on the quality of life (0.253), however, the non-pharmacologic interventions such as reduction in salt and oil consumption (0.035), reduction in beverages consumption (0.0014) and increased water intake (0.010) had resulted in better QoL. The patients who reported dizziness had poor HRQoL while patients who had cardiac problems and diabetes reported a significantly lower EQ-VAS score. The effect of gender on the HRQoL of hypertensive patients who had comorbid conditions was significant in the case of renal, respiratory, visual problems, and dizziness where females had a lesser utility score than males. The study reports on significant determinants which should be taken into account in an attempt to improve the health-related quality of life of hypertensive patients.