Summary
We evaluated the effects of 4 antihypertensive drugs on the quality of life (QOL) in patients over 60 years of age. Mild to moderate hypertensive patients (n = 230; systolic blood pressure (BP) > 160 mmHg and/or diastolic BP > 95 mmHg) without serious complications were enrolled in the study and randomly assigned to 4 different antihypertensive drugs: Captopril, nicardipine, pindolol, and trichlormethiazide. At 0, 3, 6, and 12 months, clinical examinations were performed. QOL was assessed using a questionnaire, and cognitive function was evaluated by dementia screening scale. The percentage of withdrawals because of adverse effects by 12 months was significantly high in the pindolol group (24%). Hypotensive effects of the drugs were comparable, and there were no significant changes in cognitive function within each treatment group. In the nicardipine, Captopril, and trichlormethiazide groups, significant improvements in QOL were noted at 6 months but became less significant at 12 months. In the pindolol group, QOL was rather worsened at 6 months, but at 12 months it was comparable with those of the other groups. Thus, the present study demonstrated that there are considerably different effects on QOL among the antihypertensive drugs in the treatment of elderly patients.
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© 1989 Springer Japan
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Mikami, H. et al. (1989). Quality of Life in the Treatment of Hypertension in the Elderly. In: Omae, T., Zanchetti, A. (eds) How Should Elderly Hypertensive Patients Be Treated?. Springer, Tokyo. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-68340-7_22
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-68340-7_22
Publisher Name: Springer, Tokyo
Print ISBN: 978-4-431-68342-1
Online ISBN: 978-4-431-68340-7
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