Quality of Life and Blood Pressure Control in Patients of a Primary Care Unit in Rio de Janeiro

Abstract

The quality of life (QL) and the blood pressure (BP) control of patients with arterial hypertension followed by two different models of health care in a primary care Unit in Rio de Janeiro were studied. A hundred and thirty-eight patients were followed up during 12 months in a primary care center. Sixty-nine were assisted in a model using an interdisciplinary approach (group A) and 69 in a model focused on medical consultation (group B). The QL was studied by the shortform health survey (SF-36) questionnaire. The Mann-Whitney test was applied to compare the scores obtained between groups and the systolic and diastolic blood pressure pre and post treatment differences ( SBP and DBP respectively) in each group. In group A, the Spearman test was used to correlate pre and post treatment BP, ?SBP and ?DBP to each QL score (p<0,05 was required). The functional capacity showed statistically the best result in the patients of group A (p=0,03), but lower scores with regard to mental health (p=0,03). The SBP dropped more significantly in group A than in group B (p<0,0001 X p<0,0003). The DBP dropped significantly only in group A (p<0,0001) Conclusion: The patients with arterial hypertension assisted in an interdisciplinary health care model showed a better response to treatment than those assisted in a conventional model, however this fact could not be related satisfactorily to a better QL