INTROduCTION An important factor influencing the perception of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is the presence of chronic diseases, especially polymorbidity. However, little is known about how concurrent chronic diseases influence the HRQoL of hypertensive patients. ObjECTIvEs The primary aim of the study was to assess the relationship between comorbidities and different aspects of HRQoL in a large unselected cohort of patients undergoing treatment for hypertension. PATIENTs ANd mEThOds A questionnaire-based study was conducted by 832 primary care physicians in a group of 12,525 unselected patients treated for hypertension for at least 3 months. HRQoL was evaluated using the Medical Outcomes Study 12-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12). REsuLTs Coexisting diseases were reported in 7986 patients (63.8%). Significantly lower HRQoL values were associated with coexisting diseases, especially obstructive respiratory disease, degenerative disc disease, radiculopathy, coronary artery disease, heart failure, stroke, diabetes, epilepsy, neurotic disorders, and mood disorders. The HRQoL of hypertensive patients decreased significantly with age and duration of antihypertensive therapy (>2 years). HRQoL values were higher for men and participants with higher education and lower for participants who were obese or had visceral obesity. Antihypertensive therapy was effective in 25.4% of the participants. CONCLusIONs Chronic diseases concomitant with arterial hypertension negatively affect all dimensions of the HRQoL.

BP values associated with optimal HRQoL are similar in younger and older patients treated for hypertension and are within the recommended goals. However, BP values associated with optimal HRQoL increase with the number of antihypertensive drugs, reflecting severity of the disease. Therefore, therapeutic goals should be individualized to prevent HRQoL deterioration.

Overweight and obesity deteriorate BP control, regardless of age and polytherapy. BMI values associated with optimal HRQoL are higher for men than women treated for hypertension. Obesity more strongly diminishes the physical versus mental HRQoL component, regardless of sex. Overweight worsens HRQoL physical components in both sexes and mental component-only in women.