Impact of antihypertensive treatment on quality of life: comparison between bisoprolol and bendrofluazide.
OBJECTIVE
To compare quality of life with the selective beta1-blocker bisoprolol and the thiazide diuretic bendrofluazide in patients with mild to moderate hypertension.


METHODS
Multi centric, randomised, double-blind, two-way crossover study carried out at six general practice centres.


METHODS
Eighty-one patients with newly diagnosed or previously treated hypertension, who had a mean diastolic blood pressure (BP) of 95-120 mm Hg after receiving placebo for 4-6 weeks.


METHODS
In random order, patients received bisoprolol (5 mg once daily) or bendrofluazide (2. 5 mg once daily) for 8 weeks.


METHODS
Quality of life and antihypertensive effect.


RESULTS
Decrease in systolic/diastolic BP did not differ between bisoprolol (10 +/- 2/13 +/- 1 mm Hg) and bendrofluazide (9 +/- 2/11 +/- 1 mm Hg). Between bisoprolol and bendrofluazide neither in the intention-to-treat nor in the efficacy analysis any difference was found in quality of life variables, such as Health Status Index, somatic symptoms, anxiety, depression, total psychiatric morbidity, cognitive symptoms and hostility score. Compared to baseline the Health Status Index improved (P < 0.05) during bisoprolol. None of the other investigated quality of life variables changed compared to baseline. No patients dropped out during bisoprolol or bendrofluazide treatment. Although, the total number of reported adverse events appeared lower during bendrofluazide than during bisoprolol treatment, it is unclear whether drug related adverse events also differ between the two drugs.


CONCLUSIONS
At equipotent antihypertensive dosages, the effect of an 8-week treatment on quality of life does not differ between the selective beta1-blocker bisoprolol and the thiazide diuretic bendrofluazide.
Vanmolkot
F H
FH
Department of Pharmacology, Maastricht University, Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM), PO Box 616, 6200 MD, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
de Hoon
J N
JN
van de Ven
L L
LL
Van Bortel
L M
LM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001539:Bendroflumethiazide / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017298:Bisoprolol / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D001539:Bendroflumethiazide; D017298:Bisoprolol