Polypharmacy and Health-Related Quality of Life Among Ambulatory Hypertensive Patients at the University of Gondar Comprehensive and Specialized Hospital, North-west Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Even though there are few numbers of studies conducted on health-related quality of life among hypertensive patients, the magnitude of polypharmacy and the effects of polypharmacy and medication adherence level on HR-QoL were not known in our country. Objective: To assess the prevalence of polypharmacy and Health-related Quality of Life Among Ambulatory Hypertensive Patients. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from April 1 to June 30, 2023, among ambulatory hypertensive patients attending the University of Gondar Comprehensive and Specialized Hospital, North-West Ethiopia. A systematic random sampling technique was used. SPSS, version 27 was used for data analysis. A binary logistic regression model was used. The study findings were considered statistically significant at P < 0.05. Descriptive statistics were used first to profile the population sampled. Categorical variables were presented by using frequency tables, percentages, and bar graphs. whereas mean and median were used for the presentation of continuous variables. Results: A total of 416 patients participated, with a response rate of 98.35%. About onethird (143, 34.4%) [95% CI: (29.8-39.2)] of patients had been exposed to polypharmacy. Older age, higher income, smoking status physical inactivity, number of comorbidities, and low medication adherence were statistically significant factors associated with increased polypharmacy. Nearly half (201, 48.3%) [95% CI: 43.4%–53.2%] of patients had poor overall HR-QoL. A Spearman’s correlation analysis indicated that polypharmacy had a strong negative correlation with HR-QoL. A Mann-Whitney U test revealed that 11.78, 12.01, and 12.46 statistically significant median score differences in physical component scores, mental component scores, and overall HR-QoL between patients exposed to polypharmacy and those not exposed to polypharmacy. Widowed, higher number of comorbidities, low and medium medication adherence, and exposure to polypharmacy were statistically significant factors associated with decreased HR-QoL Conclusion: About one-third of patients were exposed to polypharmacy. Nearly half of the patients had poor overall health-related quality of life. Prescribers, clinical pharmacists, and other health care providers need to pay attention to the patient’s overall health-related quality of life and implement key steps to minimize the effect of polypharmacy on overall health-related quality of life.