title: ACE inhibitors and the quality of life.
abstract: The effects of antihypertensive drugs on the quality of life are complex. Drugs may affect the enjoyment of life through central actions but also through a psychological response to pharmacological actions elsewhere in the body. In addition, the patient's expectation of the consequences of disease and its treatment may significantly influence the quality of his or her life. The effect of prior expectations by both the patient and the doctor, the different methods for assessing the quality of life effects, and the high level of individual variability make any assessment of the absolute importance of quality of life adverse effects extremely difficult. However, comparison of ACE inhibitors with more long-standing forms of antihypertensive therapy suggests a rather more favourable impact of ACE inhibition on the quality of life.
mesh_terms: D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy; D011788:Quality of Life
chemical_list: D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents