Impact of comorbidity on well-being in hypertension: case control study.

The impact of hypertension and comorbidity on reporting of well-being was compared in hypertensives (n = 45) and normotensives (n = 45) matched for age, sex and ethnic origin. Self-reported health, measured by the Duke profile, was worse for most measures for the hypertensive group. The mean DUSIO (Duke Severity of Illness Scale) severity of illness score, the physicians' assessment of the subject's health, was significantly higher in hypertensives than in normotensives (40.8 vs. 29.1, P = 0.04). Approximately 20% of the variance in well-being scores could be explained by comorbidity. Hypertension per se explained only 2% of the variance and its correlation with well-being was not statistically significant. Perception of health (a subscale of the DUKE) was somewhat more dependent on existence of hypertension. In this study, self-assessment of health and well-being are explained to a large extent by differences in comorbid conditions. Well-being is independent of hypertension. These findings underscore the importance of defining and ameliorating co-existing disease in patients with hypertension.