[The role of the age on the quality of life of patients older than 65 years of age with vertebrobasilar ischemia treated with nicardipine].
OBJECTIVE
To establish the role of the age on quality of life of a group of normotensive patients, older than 65 years with vertebrobasilar ischemia, treated with nicardipine. To evaluate the influence of the Nicardipine side effects on the quality of life of these patients within general practice prescription limits.


METHODS
An epidemiological cohort study was performed during six months, in several Basic Health Areas distributed all round Spain. Nottingham Health Profile (NHP) was used to evaluate quality of life and was applied at the beginning and at the end of the study. Nicardipine side effects were collected in every evaluation.


RESULTS
838 patients were included in the study, mean age 72.4 +/- 6.8 years, 337 (40.2%) were males and 501 (59.8%) females. When we compared quality of life according to the age, no significant differences were obtained (RR = 0.89; CI 95% 0.77-1.30). NHP global score +/- SD was initially 36.5 +/- 22.8 and 24.5 +/- 19.1 at the end of the study, this result was statistically significant (p < 0.001), which means a percentage of improvement of 33%. These differences were also significant in every NHP area. Side effects were not frequent and with no correlation with quality of life of patients (p = ns).


CONCLUSIONS
Our data show that neither the age nor side effects due to nicardipine have influence on quality of life of normotensive patients, older than 65 years with vertebrovascular ischemia, treated with nicardipine. Quality of life assessment can be an useful tool for therapeutical evaluation in these patients.
D000368:Aged; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009529:Nicardipine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011788:Quality of Life; D014711:Vertebral Artery / Q000503:physiopathology*
D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D009529:Nicardipine
Influencia de la edad en la calidad de vida de pacientes mayores de 65 años con isquemia vertebrobasilar tratados con nicardipino.