Quality of life and Psychopathology in Essential Hypertension with Dyslipidaemia

Background:Patients with chronic conditions like hypertension may experience many negative emotions which increase their risk for poor quality of lifeas well as the development of anxiety and depression symptomatology. However little is known about hypertension accompanied by dyslipidaemia. Aim: This study aimed to investigate the possible differences between hypertensive patients with dyslipidaemia and hypertensive patients without dyslipidaemia on quality of life and mental health. Methods:One hundred and nineteen-seven patients with essential hypertension participated and classified into two groups― dyslipidemic and non dyslipidaemic ― based on the levels of hypertension and cholesterol after medical examination. Along with a questionnaire regarding demographics and clinical features the SF-36 Health Survey, the Symptom Checklist-90-R, and the Cardiac Anxiety Questionnaire were administered. Results: Lower levels of Physical Functioning (p=.001), Role –Physical (p=.046), Vitality (p=.000), Bodily Pain (p=.004), General Health (p=.000) and Physical Component Summary (p=.000)betweendyslipidemic and non dyslipidaemichypertensive patients were found. Significant differences between groups were also observed in all dimensions of psychopathology with exception to Hostility (p=.097), and Phobic Anxiety (p=.472). Apart from the avoidance subscale (p=.018), no difference onheart focused anxiety between the two groups was found. Logistic regression model found that dyslipidaemic hypertensive patients had in general a higher risk of impairment regarding quality of life and psychopathology. Conclusions: There is a significant association between presence of dyslipidaemia and deteriorated quality of life as well as mental symptomatology inhypertensive patients. The need for a more target therapeutic schema is outlined.