Factors affecting quality of life among older adults with hypertension in Wenzhou, China: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: In China, the incidence of hypertension rises significantly with age, resulting in a markedly reduced quality of life (QoL) among older patients compared to the general population. Therefore, it is essential for healthcare providers, particularly nurses, to identify the predictive factors that influence QoL in this demographic. Objective: This study aimed to describe the QoL levels and investigate the predictive power of perceived health status, self-care behavior, and social support on QoL among older patients with hypertension in Wenzhou, China. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 131 patients with hypertension aged 60 and above, visiting the Cardiovascular Outpatient Department of The Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University. Data were collected using validated instruments between November and December 2022 and analyzed using descriptive statistics and stepwise multiple regression. Results: The overall QoL was moderate (Mean = 75.52, SD = 5.86). Self-care behavior (β = 0.421, p <0.001), social support (β = 0.416, p <0.001), and perceived health status (β = -0.170, p <0.001) were significant predictors of QoL, collectively explaining 82.7% of the variance. Conclusions: The findings highlight the importance of self-care behavior, social support, and perceived health status as critical factors influencing QoL among older patients with hypertension. Nurses and other healthcare providers should focus on enhancing these areas through targeted education and support initiatives to improve the overall well-being of this vulnerable population.

Keywords

• China
• older adults
• quality of life
• hypertension
• perceived health status
• self-care behavior