Abstract
BACKGROUND: Hypertension is a leading global health issue and a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Understanding the differences in quality of life (QoL) and health awareness among hypertensive patients in urban and rural regions is critical for developing targeted interventions to improve health outcomes. This study aims to assess the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and health awareness among hypertensive patients in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. METHODS: A cross-sectional design was adopted to evaluate 246 hypertensive patients attending public and private hospitals in Riyadh. Data were collected using structured questionnaires covering socio-demographics, HRQoL (measured via the SF-36), and health awareness. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation coefficients, and inferential analysis were performed using SPSS version 26 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY), with significance set at p < 0.05. RESULTS: The mean age of participants was 55.2 years (SD = 10.3), with 55.7% being male. The overall HRQoL score was 62.7 (SD = 17.3), reflecting a moderate level of quality of life. Emotional well-being scored the highest (72.2, SD = 16.4), while energy/fatigue scored the lowest (55.4, SD = 14.9). Health awareness levels were high regarding the importance of blood pressure monitoring (mean = 4.7, SD = 0.5) and lifestyle changes (mean = 4.6, SD = 0.5), but moderate for stress management (mean = 4.1, SD = 0.7). Significant positive correlations were found between QoL and awareness of regular blood pressure monitoring (r = 0.50, p < 0.001) and lifestyle changes (r = 0.48, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The study revealed a moderate level of HRQoL among hypertensive patients in Riyadh, with notable gaps in awareness of stress management and other lifestyle factors. Tailored health education programs focusing on these areas are essential to improving hypertension management and enhancing overall quality of life, particularly in rural populations with limited healthcare access.