The relationship of sleep quality to health-related quality of life in hypertensives at the family medicine department, University College Hospital Ibadan: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: Sleep difficulties are common complaints in family practice and have been found to have deleterious effects on healthrelated quality of life in patients with chronic diseases. Information on sleep difficulties in the context of hypertension in the Nigerian setting is sparse and associated with controversy.
Aim: This study sought to evaluate the relationship between sleep quality in patients with hypertension and their health-related
quality of life.
Setting: The study was conducted in the Family Medicine Department of a Tertiary hospital in South-western Nigeria which provides
first-contact and longitudinal care for persons in its environs.
Methodology: The study was a cross-sectional survey in which 380 patients with hypertension presenting to the general outpatient
clinic were interviewed to determine sleep quality, health related quality of life and associated factors. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index was used to assess sleep quality (cut-off score >5) while the Medical Outcomes Short Form-36 was used to measure  Healthrelated Quality of Life (HRQoL) on a continuous scale. The data was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS)
version 22.
Results: Poor Sleep Quality was found in 40.3% of the respondents. Poor sleep quality was associated with having a poorer HRQoLin
all domains of the SF-36: Physical Health Component Score: 75.25±15.82 vs 67.13±17.68 (p <0.01), Mental Health Component Score: 79.57 ± 16.03 Vs 71.00±17.59 (p<0.01). The association between having a poor sleep quality and a poorer Global HRQoL persisted on regression analysis HRQoL{B= -6.05, p<0.1, Confidence Interval: -9.10 to -3.00}
Conclusion: Poor sleep quality in hypertensives is associated with a poorer health related quality of life relative to having a normal
sleep quality.

Keywords: Hypertension, Sleep Quality, Family Practice, Quality of life, Insomnia