[Chronic diseases and quality of life in primary health care].

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate quality of life in chronic patients treated at primary care services associated with the Catholic University of Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. Quality of life was assessed by WHOQOL-Bref, and data on chronic diseases were obtained from patients' medical records and categorized as cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases, endocrine diseases, mental illness, and other musculoskeletal diseases. A total of 920 subjects were interviewed. Low self-rated quality of life was associated with female gender, older age, low socioeconomic status, single conjugal status, and chronic disease. In all domains of quality of life, mean levels were lower in patients with diseases of the nervous system, except in the environmental domains, which were lower in patients with mental illness. The results corroborate that quality of life in patients with chronic diseases is a priority for public health policies.