The effect of metabolic syndrome on psychological characteristics and quality of life in patients with arterial hypertension

Abstract

The combined course of arterial hypertension (AH) and metabolic syndrome (MS) leads to an increased risk of cardiovascular complications, type 2 diabetes mellitus and overall mortality. Psychological factors play an important role in the emergence and development of hypertension and MS. Affective mental disorders and psychosocial stress can aggravate the course of this pathology, reducing the quality of life of patients. Purpose of the study. To study the effect of MS on the mental state and quality of life in patients with hypertension based on the results of psychodiagnostic testing. Materials and methods. 120 outpatients were examined. The 1st group (comparison) included 63 patients with AH, the 2nd (main) group included 57 patients with AH and MS. The following scales were used: psychosocial stress scale of L. Rieder et al., Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Abbreviated Multifactor Personality Questionnaire (SMOL), Quality of Life Scale (SF-36). Results. The frequency of psychosocial stress in AH with MS was 93%, and in AH it was 67% (p < 0.001). High stress was 2 times more common in AH patients with MS than in AH patients. Anxiety disorders were detected in 72%, and depressive disorders in 79% of AH patients with MS, which is much more common than in AH patients. Quality of life indicators on a number of scales of physical and mental components of health were lower in AH with MS than in AH. Conclusion. The data obtained indicate a significant deterioration in mental health and quality of life in patients with hypertension on the background of MS.