Abstract: Objective: To explore the quality of life for elderly hypertension patients living in Macao communities and its correlated factors, to provide theoretical basis for taking further interventions to improve the health of this population. Methods: A total of 220 elderly patients with hypertension were included by convenience sampling from three day-care centers and five nursing homes for the elderly in Macao from April 2019 to March 2023. The general information questionnaire, Toronto Alexithymia Scale, the Social Support Rating Scale, the Hypertension Self-Efficacy Scale and The Mos 36-Item Short Form Health Survey were used to collect the data. Results: According to the Mos 36-Item Short Form Health Survey, the average total score of physical health of the patients was 60.01±17.30, and 59.00±18.85 for their mental health score. The results of multiple linear regression analysis showed that alexithymia, self-efficacy, course of hypertension, whether taking regular exercise and diet control were the main factors of physical health (P<0.05), while alexithymia, social support, whether having regular exercise and the frequency of blood pressure monitoring were the main factors of psychological health (P<0.05). Conclusion: The quality of life of elderly patients with hypertension in Macao communities needs to be improved. More attention should be paid to the physical health of those with alexithymia, low self-efficacy, having hypertension for over 20 years, and taking neither regular exercise nor dietary control. As to those with alexithymia, low level of social support, having no regular exercise and less frequent blood pressure monitoring, more attention is required to their mental health. It is suggested to improve the quality of life of those patients through psychological and social support, health education, regular blood pressure monitoring, exercise and proper diet control to encourage the aged to express their emotions and enhance their self-efficacy.

Key words: elderly; hypertension; alexithymia; quality of life; social support