Quality of life in hypertensive clinic patients following hurricane katrina.

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to assess quality of life among hypertensive patients in the year following Hurricane Katrina.

METHODS

Hypertensive patients (n  =  211) in a multispecialty group practice in New Orleans completed validated surveys during the year after Hurricane Katrina. We assessed patients' demographics, quality of life (Medical Outcomes Study 36), hurricane coping self-efficacy, property damage, stress, and changes in distance from and visits with family and friends.

RESULTS

The mean age of participants was 63.5 years, 45.0% were men, 70.6% were white, 89.5% had graduated from high school, and 68.3% were married. Mean quality of life scores (standard deviation) were physical functioning 64.6 (30.0), role physical 60.0 (42.8), bodily pain 59.9 (24.3), general health 60.4 (20.5), vitality 53.6 (26.5), social functioning 74.5 (28.1), role emotional 67.8 (41.1), and mental 72.3 (22.0). After adjustment for age, gender, and race, lower coping self-efficacy, more damage to their residence, higher levels of stress after the storm, increased distance from family and friends, and decreased visits with family and friends were associated with lower quality of life. Personal and financial losses were identified as the most common cause of postdisaster stress, reported by 29.6% of participants.

CONCLUSIONS

Storm-related factors were associated with lower quality of life in adult patients with hypertension after Hurricane Katrina. Providers managing hypertensive patients in disaster-prone areas may want to consider these factors in identifying patients at risk for lower quality of life following catastrophes.