The relationship of neutrophyl - lymphocyte ratio in essential hypertensive patients with quality of life, anxiety and depression

Introduction and Aim: Hypertension (HT) is a common systemic disease that causes serious complications in society. In our study, patients with essential hypertension possible relationship between neutrophil - lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and quality of life, anxiety - depression was investigated. Materials and Methods: 200 essential hypertensive patients who applied to Manisa Celal Bayar University Hospital Nephrology outpatıent department were included in the study. Short Form-36 (SF-36) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD) were administered to the patients during their controls. The complete blood count of the patients was recorded. NLR was calculated by dividing absolute neutrophil count by absolute lymphocyte count. The relationship between NLR and quality of life, anxiety and depression was investigated. Results: According to the HAD results of 200 essential HT patients, 40% were found to be depressive and 18.5% were found to be anxious. NLR was statistically significantly higher in essential HT patients with anxiety (p=0.00) and depression (p=0.00). A statistically significant negative correlation was found between NLR and role limitations due to physical health (|r|= -0.228), pain (|r|= -0.202), general health (|r|= -0.254), vitality (energy) (|r|= -0.222), social function (|r|= -0.235), role limitations due to emotional problems (|r|= -0.231), emotional well-being (|r|= -0.267) except physical function. Patients with and without diabetes were compared in essential HT patients. There was no statistically significant difference in NLR between those with and without diabetes (p=0.58). A statistically significant difference was observed in general health (p=0.01) and social function (p=0.08) in terms of the quality of life sub-domain scores of those with diabetes. Essential HT patients with diabetes were found to be more depressed (p=0.018) and more anxious (p=0.003). Conclusion: In our study, as the NLR, which is a marker of low-grade inflammation, increases in essential HT patients, the quality of life decreases and anxiety - depression increases. In diabetic essential hypertensive patients, higher NLR was observed. A significant decrease in quality of life assessment scores and a significant increase in anxiety - depression scores were found. Key words: Essential Hypertension, Neutrophil Lymphocyte Ratio, SF-36, HAD