Alterations in health perception and lifestyle in treated hypertensives

The effect of being treated for hypertension on health perception and life-style and the duration of any alterations after first diagnosis were assessed by administering a standardized interview schedule to employed treated hypertensive men and women, aged 40-64 years, who were either newly diagnosed (ND) (within 6 months of the interview) or previously diagnosed (PD) (1-3 years before the interview) and who were otherwise healthy. In both groups of 50 hypertensives, indices of health status and ability to participate in enjoyable activities were significantly lower while symptom score and index of worry about health were significantly higher compared with a group of 50 age and sex-matched normotensive controls (C) (p less than 0.001). The hypertensive groups did not differ from each other. Both hypertensive groups reported significant reductions in the time spent at work (p less than 0.005). Self-reported weight loss in the 2 months preceding the interview was significantly greater in ND hypertensives compared with PD and C individuals (p less than 0.01). Our data indicate that the diagnosis and treatment of hypertension had a significant and sustained negative impact on health perception and activities of daily living even among actively employed, relatively healthy, medicated hypertensives for whom there were no medical indications to restrict their life-style.