The effects of diuretics on quality of life of hypertensive patients.
OBJECTIVE
To study the effect of diuretics and diuretics discontinuation on the quality of life (QOL) of hypertensive patients.


METHODS
149 beta blocker treated mild to moderate hypertensive patients were included in the study. Seventy-three were treated by beta blockers (BB's) only and 60 by BB's and diuretics, for 40 patients diuretics was discontinued. Physical symptoms and QOL were assessed before and 9-15 months after the change in treatment.


RESULTS
At baseline, subjects on diuretics experienced more gastrointestinal symptoms, weakness, and sex related problems; and their QOL was poorer. At the end of the follow-up, patients on diuretics scored poorest on physical strength items and on health perceptions; those who were never treated by diuretics scored best; and those who stopped were in between.


CONCLUSIONS
Diuretics treatment adversely affect patients' QOL. Cessation of diuretics treatment for at least 9 months improved some aspects of patients' QOL, though those who never received diuretics were better of than others.
Paran
E
E
Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel.
Anson
O
O
Neumann
L
L
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004232:Diuretics / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D004232:Diuretics