RESUMEN
PURPOSE: This study seeks to establish the construct validity of Health Utilities Index Mark 3 (HUI3)--a health state utility measure--in a Nigerian population of hypertensive patients. METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in a population of hypertensive patients in two tertiary hospitals located in South-Eastern Nigeria. A priori hypotheses were tested to establish construct validity. RESULTS: A total of 384 participants were interviewed. Hypertensive patients with stroke or coronary heart disease (CHD) had a lower overall utility value compared to those with hypertension alone. There was a significant difference in group means of 0.53 (95 % confidence interval of 0.44-0.62); t = 11.8, p < 0.01, between participants that had hypertension alone and participants with hypertension and stroke. Also, there was a significant difference in group means of 0.44 (95 % confidence interval of 0.34-0.56); t = 8.2, p < 0.01, between participants that had hypertension alone and participants with hypertension and CHD. Generally, there was a significant health-related quality of life deficit among patients with severe clinical variables compared to those with milder clinical variables. CONCLUSION: HUI3 demonstrated constructed validity among a population of Nigerian patients with high blood pressure.
