QUALITY OF LIFE AMONG HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS ATTENDING PRIMARY HEALTHCARE CENTERS IN JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA.

Background: Hypertension is frequent in Saudi Arabia and has significant impact on the quality of life (QOL). Objective: To assess QOL and associated factors among hypertensive patients attending primary healthcare centers (PHC). Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among adult hypertensive patients following in a PHC in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.The WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire was used to assess physical, psychological, social and environmental health domains. Demographic, socioeconomic and clinical data were analyzed as predictors for poor QOL in univariate and stepwise multiple regression. Results: A total 273 hypertensive patients were included; 52.7% males, 36.6% aged>50 years,mean±SD duration of hypertension=6.39±5.50 years, and 32.2% were diabetic. Per-domain QOL assessment showed mean±SD scores=61.30±16.79; 61.16±16.59; 56.94±22.04; and 55.45±16.35 in physical, psychological, social and environmental health domains, respectively. As per the domain, old age, low educational level, unemployment, low income, long disease duration, compliance to and frequent use of antihypertensive medications and coexistence of comorbidities were predictors for poor QOL. Conclusion: Hypertensive patients have impaired QOL aggravated by several adverse demographic, socioeconomic and clinical factors.