Evaluation of sleep quality and general health conditions in hypertension patients who apply to the Family Medicine Polyclinic in Ordu

Objective Our study aims to evaluate sleep quality in hypertensive patients aged 18 and above and to examine the relationship between sleep quality and the General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12), a tool used for screening mental health status. Materials and Methods This cross-sectional study included a total of 190 participants, consisting of 95 hypertensive patients and 95 controls without hypertension, who applied to the Family Medicine outpatient clinic at Ordu Training and Research Hospital between February and July 2024. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and GHQ-12 questionnaires were used in the study. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS v23 and R software, with a significance level set at p<0.050. Results Significant differences were found between the hypertension and control groups in the PSQI components for subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, habitual sleep efficiency, and sleep disturbances. A statistically significant association was identified between hypertension, the control group, and GSA-12 scores (p=0.001). In the hypertension group, 56.8% had poor mental health, compared to 33.7% in the control group. For individuals with GSA-12 scores of 2 or higher in the hypertension group, significant differences were observed in subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, sleep disturbances, and daytime dysfunction components. Conclusion The findings of the study reveal interactions between hypertension, mental state and sleep quality. The study shows that these factors are in a cycle that feeds each other. As primary care physicians, considering the prevalence, chronicization rates, possible complications and consequences of these diseases in the society, preventing the emergence of many related new clinics or managing the complications that may occur in related conditions when they cannot be prevented is in line with the philosophy of Family Medicine Specialization. Keywords Hypertension, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Sleep disturbance, Mental health, Family Medicine