Quality of life of patients with mild hypertension treated with captopril: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the quality of life (QOL) of mild hypertensive patients treated with captopril as compared to placebo.


METHODS
This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial held in the out-patient clinic of Zhong Shan Hospital. Adult patients aged from 28 to 75 years with mild hypertension defined as diastolic blood pressure from 90 to 105 mm Hg were the inclusion criteria of the study. There were 278 patients who were eligible to enter the study. They were randomized to receive captopril or placebo 25 to 50 mg bid for 12 weeks. Change of QOL was compared both quantitatively and qualitatively between captopril and placebo groups. Change of blood pressure and side effects were also compared.


RESULTS
With intention-to-treat analysis, significantly more improved QOL patients could be found qualitatively in patients with captopril treatment (45.3% vs 23.7%, P = 0.0002 for physical health domain; 48.9% vs 26.6%, P = 0.0002 for mental health domain; 33.8% vs 11.5%, P = 0.0001 for general function domain). Quantitatively, the change of score of mental health, general function and total QOL of captopril (3.18 +/- 5.90; 1.65 +/- 4.43; 7.84 +/- 11.03) were significantly higher than those of placebo (1.32 +/- 5.13, P = 0.00004; 0.64 +/- 3.45, P = 0.0008; 4.19 +/- 10.33, P = 0.0025 respectively), and the change of score of physical health domain (3.01 +/- 5.26 vs 2.23 +/- 4.79, P = 0.044) was of borderline statistical significant difference. Blood pressure was significantly lowered by captopril than by placebo (P = 0.000).


CONCLUSIONS
Compared with the placebo, captopril is not only effective in lowering blood pressure, as has been established, but also effective in improving QOL in mild hypertensives.
Hu
Y
Y
Department of Internal Medicine, Zhong Shan Hospital, Shanghai Medical University, Shanghai 200032, China. yuhuceu@public.sta.net.cn
Zhu
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002216:Captopril / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life
D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D002216:Captopril