Measuring quality of life in hypertensive patients with diabetes

A general health status measurement instrument which assessed quality of life components was developed for diabetic patients with hypertension. The instrument was conceptualized using a broad definition of health status including measures of physical, emotional and social well-being. Because certain antihypertensive agents can alter the metabolic state of the diabetic patient, the instrument was designed to evaluate diabetes-specific symptomatology as well as interactions between antihypertensive agents and metabolic control. The background and structure of the instrument is discussed and the basic item content outlined. A preliminary pilot study consisting of 58 volunteers including healthy normals, patients with diabetes and patients with hypertension indicated that the instrument was practical for the clinic setting and that the scales and composite scores obtained from individual item responses were internally consistent and reliable over repeated trials. Discrimination among the groups also indicated the instrument's ability to be sensitive to a broad range of responses.