Background. Currently, quite a lot of patients with osteoarthritis (OA) have a history of arterial hypertension (AH). This phenomenon makes it necessary to analyze the effect of AH on the clinical parameters of patients with OA.
Objective. Evaluation of the dependence of clinical parameters in patients with OA on the presence of AH.
Methods. 30 patients with a reliable diagnosis of OA, divided into 2 groups – with the presence of AH (n=17) and without increased blood pressure (n=13) – were examined. The mean age of the patients was 66.6±6.9, the duration of the disease was 7.9±5.8 years. Anthropometric parameters, anamnestic data, joint pain according to the visual analogue scale (VAS), and the presence of concomitant diseases were assessed. The analysis of the health status of patients with OA was carried out using the EQ-5D questionnaire.
Results. AH was diagnosed in 56.7% of patients with OA. The study groups did not differ in age significantly. In the group of patients
with AH, the duration of the OA was longer (10.1±6.7) than in the group without it (5.4±2.6) (P<0.05). In patients with OA, a significant relationship between taking chondroprotectors and an increase in blood pressure was found (P=0.024). In the group of patients with OA without AH, significantly more patients had a more favorable variant of the articular syndrome, stage I of the disease (P=0.009). Pain according to VAS did not differ statistically, moderate intensity of pain prevailed. According to the results of the EQ-5D questionnaire, the level of quality of life (physical and mental health) was significantly lower in patients with AH than in the control group by all parameters. Conclusion. Patients with OA and elevated blood pressure have worse clinical and functional parameters than those without arterial hypertension. Quality of life indicators in patients with OA and AH are significantly lower than in patients with OA without AH.

Keywords: clinical indicators, osteoarthritis, arterial hypertension, quality of life