Health-related quality of life in cardiac patients with dyslipidemia and hypertension.

BACKGROUND

Hypertension is associated with lower health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Similar association may be found for dyslipidemia. However, controversies exist regarding the HRQOL with dyslipidemia. We evaluated the HRQOL of cardiac patients with and without dyslipidemia and hypertension.

METHODS

In a cross-sectional study, 284 cardiac patients rated their HRQOL using SF-36 Health Survey (SF-36), and three preference-based measures (Rating Scale, Time Trade-off and Standard Gamble).

RESULTS

Compared to those without dyslipidemia, those with dyslipidemia reported better HRQOL on all preference-based measures and most SF-36 scales particularly on the physical health scales. Adjusted mean differences and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were equal to 4.5 (0.5, 8.5), 10.8 (2.8, 18.8), and 2.2 (0.2, 4.2) on the Physical Functioning, the Role-Physical and the Physical Component Summary scales, respectively. Exactly the opposite trends were observed among patients with hypertension. The adjusted mean differences (95% CI) were equal to -2.7 (-6.7, 1.4), -10.9 (-19.1, -2.8), and -2.9 (-4.9, -0.9) on the Physical Functioning, the Role-Physical and the Physical Component Summary scales, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Cardiac patients with hypertension reported lower physical health than those without hypertension while cardiac patients with dyslipidemia reported better physical health than those without dyslipidemia. The reason for these different trends is not known. Possible explanations are discussed.