QUALITY-OF-LIFE UNDER ANTIHYPERTENSIVE TREATMENT - A COMPARISON OF CAPTOPRIL AND METOPROLOL

218 patients with essential hypertension (diastol. blood pressure after a 4 week-wash-out-period 95-115 mmHg) were included in a 26 week clinical trial on the effects of ACE inhibitor Captopril (50 mg o.d.) versus betablocker Metoprolol (100 mg o.d.) on blood pressure reduction and on subjective health (>>quality of life<<). Subjective health was assessed by a carefully tested standardized questionnaire measuring the following aspects: work performance, regeneration, mood, quality of sleep, sexual life and symptoms. The two drugs resulted in a comparable, significant and clinically relevant reduction in blood pressure. However, patients treated with Captopril, as compared to those treated with Metoprolol, exhibited significant improvements in work performance and regeneration both after 6 weeks and 6 months, and in mood (after 6 weeks), symptom experience and quality of sleep (after 6 months). In sum, the standardized assessment of subjective health provides additional important information on the effects of antihypertensive drug treatment.