10INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH & OPINION

Increased QOL with acebutololor chlorthalidone for hypertension

Patients receiving antihypertensive treatment usingacebutolol or chlorthalidone experience greaterimprovement in quality of life (QOL), compared withthose receiving other antihypertensives or placebo,say US-based researchers.*

They used data from the Treatment of MildHypertension Study (TOMHS) to assess QOL in902 patients (aged 45-64 years) who received eitherantihypertensive therapy or placebo over a 4-yearperiod. Drug therapy comprised either acebutolol400 mg/day, amlodipine 5 mg/day, chlorthalidone15 mg/day, doxazosin 2 mg/day or enalapril 5 mg/day.

QOL was assessed using a self-administeredquestionnaire that included 33 items from the MedicalOutcomes Study and 2 items from the RAND HealthInsurance Experiment.

Drug treabnent improves QOLPatients receiving active treatment experienced

greater improvement in most QOL indexes, comparedwith placebo. The improvements were particularlyevident with respect to mental health, and general andsocial functioning. Patients receiving acebutolol orchlorthalidone experienced the greatest improvementin QOL, compared with those receiving other agents[see table).

Mean ~obal change in QOL from baselinefollowmg antihypertensive therapy'"

TnNltment Change In global QOL score

AcebutoIol 479.3

Amkxiplne 449.8

Chlorthalldone 461.3

Doxazosln 422.0

EnalapOl 437.9

Placebo 420.3

• averaoed 0'IfK aU follow-up vIsI1s

The study also demonstrated that lifestyle changes,such as weight loss and increased physical activity,were also associated with a greater improvement inQOL, compared with no such lifestyle changes. Theresearchers conclude that 'these interventions, inaddition to contributing to blood pressure control,have positive effects on the overall well-being of theindividual. '* The study was supponed by Pfizer Inc. in New York. andMerck, Sharp and Dohme Research Laboratories inPennsylvania. US.Grimm lr RH. Grandits GA, Cutler lA. TOMHS Research Group. et aI.Relationships of quality-of-life measures to long-term lifestyle and druglreaUTIem in the TreaUTIem of Mild Hypenension Srudy. Archives of InternalMedicine 157: 638-648. 24 Mar 1997 """,.,,,

PharmacoEconomics & Outcomes News 3 May 1997 No. 110 1173-5503197/0110-000101$01.00"Adis International Limited 1997. All rights reserved