Quality of life in hypertension management using olmesartan in primary care.
OBJECTIVE
Differences in quality of life (QoL) using antihypertensive drugs may account for differences in compliance, persistence and blood pressure control. As this is the prerequisite for cardiovascular risk reduction, QoL was investigated using highly tolerable drugs (such as olmesartan).


METHODS
The non-interventional study was carried out in 4252 primary care patients with 6 weeks of follow up. Documentation of patient characteristics included concomitant diseases and antihypertensive medication, blood pressure, pulse pressure, pulse rate and evaluation of QoL using the SF-12 questionnaire. Comparison of data at 6 weeks after adding or switching to olmesartan treatment (median dose: 20 mg) with baseline values.


METHODS
Patients had mild-to-moderate hypertension, 52.6% of whom were male and the mean age was 60.5 +/- 11.9 years. Dyslipidaemia (38.3%), diabetes (20.9%) and coronary heart disease (16.4%) were the most frequent concomitant diseases. After 6 weeks, blood pressure was reduced by -22.8 +/- 14.1/-11.5 +/- 8.3 mmHg (p < 0.001 versus baseline). All items of the SF-12 questionnaire and both sum scores improved over the course of treatment (p < 0.001 versus baseline), and were well compatible with non-hypertensive controls. Improvements were higher when switching from alpha-blockers, calcium channel blockers, beta-blockers, diuretics and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors as compared with angiotensin II type 1 receptors blockers (ARBs), in particular on the mental health scale (p < 0.001). Adverse events were rare (0.66%), with dizziness (n = 8; 0.19%) being the most frequent.


CONCLUSIONS
As was shown in the current study, patients on olmesartan treatment not only achieve adequate blood pressure control but also experienced a substantial improvement of QoL. This may contribute to long-term blood pressure control using ARBs.
Schmidt
André C
AC
Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, CharitéCentrum für Therapieforschung, Charitéplatz 1, D-10117 Berlin, Germany. andre.schmidt@charite.de
Bramlage
Peter
P
Limberg
Roger
R
Kreutz
Reinhold
R
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology*; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013777:Tetrazoles / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D007093:Imidazoles; D013777:Tetrazoles; C437965:olmesartan