Does lowering the blood pressure improve the mood? Quality-of-life results from the Hypertension Optimal Treatment (HOT) study.
Nine-hundred-and-twenty-two hypertensive patients were included in a substudy to the Hypertension Optimal Treatment study, which aimed to investigate the impact on quality of life of lowering the pressure and of intensified therapy. Seven-hundred-and-eighty-one patients completed both baseline and follow-up questionnaires (intention-to-treat population), while 610 patients were included in a per protocol analysis. Patients were randomized to three diastolic BP levels (DBPs), i.e. < or =90 mmHg, < or =85 mmHg and < or =80 mmHg. Two self-administered validated questionnaires, the Psychological General Well-Being index and the Subjective Symptoms Assessment Profile (SSA-P) were completed at baseline and after 6 months. The lower the DBP achieved, the greater the improvement in well-being (p < 0.05). The increase in well-being from baseline to 6 months was significant in target groups < or =80 mmHg (p < 0.01) and < or =85 mmHg (p < 0.05). The SSA-P domains, cardiac symptoms and dizziness improved in all groups but the sex life score deteriorated in the < or =80 and < or =85 mmHg groups in male patients. In all target groups, headaches were reduced (p < 0.001), while swollen ankles (p < 0.001) and dry cough in the < or =80 mmHg group (p < 0.001) increased. Although more intensive antihypertensive therapy is associated with a slight increase in subjective symptoms, it is nonetheless still associated with improvements in patients' well-being.
Wiklund
I
I
Astra Hässle, Mölndal, Sweden.
Halling
K
K
Rydén-Bergsten
T
T
Fletcher
A
A
D000339:Affect / Q000187:drug effects*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000842:Ankle / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003371:Cough / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D003971:Diastole; D004244:Dizziness / Q000503:physiopathology; D004487:Edema / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D015736:Felodipine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006261:Headache / Q000503:physiopathology; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D015736:Felodipine