Abstract
Hypertension is a preventable condition, and the outcomes of clinical trials have established that its treatment reduces cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Although awareness about the disease has improved in the past two decades, the reality is that many people remain untreated or not adequately controlled. The treatment of hypertension is usually long term, and its success will depend on the effects of the drug regimen on the patient’s quality of life. The relationship between quality of life and compliance is complex and merits careful study. Monitoring quality of life may be one of the best ways of improving adherence to treatment. Therefore, when developing an approach to the treatment of hypertension, physicians should take into consideration the impact of different antihypertensives on the patient’s overall well being, and along with the side effects and contraindications, quality-of-life issues may determine the choice of medication.
Similar content being viewed by others
References and Recommended Reading
Os I: Quality of life in hypertension. J Hum Hypertens 1994, 8(suppl 1):S27-S30.
Leonetti G, Comerio G, Cuspidi C: Evaluating quality of life in hypertensive patients. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol 1994, 23(suppl 5):S54-S58.
Hosie J, Wiklund I: Managing hypertension in general practice: can we do better? J Hum Hypertens 1995, 9:S15-S18.
Bulpitt CJ, Fletcher AE: Quality of life evaluation of antihypertensive drugs. Pharmacoeconomics 1992, 2:95–102.
Bulpitt CJ, Fletcher AE: Quality-of-life instruments in hypertension. Pharmacoeconomics 1994, 6:523–535.
Williams GH: Assessing patient wellness: new perspectives on quality of life and compliance. Am J Hypertens 1998, 11:186S-191S.
Kittler ME: Elderly hypertensives and quality of life: some methodological considerations. Eur Heart J 1994, 14:113–121.
Weber M: Guidelines for assessing outcomes of antihypertensive treatment. Am J Cardiol 1999, 84:2K-4K.
vanRossum CTM, van de Mheen H, Witteman JCM, et al.: Prevalence, treatment, and control of hypertension by sociodemographic factors among the Dutch elderly. Hypertension 2000, 35:814–821. A cross-sectional analysis of subjects in the Rotterdam Study revealed that 25% and 18% of hypertensive men and women, respectively, were not aware of having hypertension.
Server P: The heterogeneity of hypertension: why doesn’t every patient respond to every antihypertensive drug? J Hum Hypertens 1995, 9:S33-S36.
Miller NH, Hill M, Kottke T, Ockene IS: The multilevel compliance challenge: recommendations for a call to action: a statement for healthcare professionals. Circulation 1997, 95:1085–1090.
Testa MA: Methods and applications of quality-of-life measurement during antihypertensive therapy. Curr Hypertens Rep 2000, 2:530–537. According to the author of this study, the assessment of the pharmacologic effects of antihypertensive drugs on the patient’s wellness should focus on elements of health-related quality of life, which affect the patient’s compliance.
Groog SH, Levine S, Testa MA, et al.: The effects of antihypertensive therapy on quality of life. N Engl J Med 1986, 314:1657–1664.
Fletcher AE, Bulpitt CJ, Chase DM, et al.: Quality of life with three antihypertensive treatments - cilazapril, atenolol, nifedipine. Hypertension 1992, 19:499–507.
Medical Research Council Working Party: MRC trial of treatment of mild hypertension: principal results. BMJ 1985, 291:97–104.
Testa MA, Hollenberg Nk, Anderson RB, et al.: Assessment by patient and spouse during antihypertensive therapy with atenolol and nifedipine GITS. Am J Hypertens 1991, 4:363–373.
Bulpitt CJ, Fletcher AE: Quality of life evaluation of antihypertensive drugs. Pharmacoeconomics 1992, 2:95–102.
Bulpitt CJ, Connor M, Schulte M, Fletcher AE: Bisoprolol and nifedipine retard in elderly hypertensive patients: effect on quality of life. J Hum Hypertens 2000, 14:205–212. s study compared the effects of the β-blocker bisoprolol versus the calcium channel blocker nifedipine on quality of life. The results of the study support the argument that β-blockers have an additional benefit in reducing tension and anxiety.
Vanmolkot, FHM, de Hoon JNJM, van de Ven LLM, Van BortelLMAB: Impact of antihypertensive treatment on quality of life: comparison between bisoprolol and bendrofluazide. J Hum Hypertens 1999, 13:559–563.
Testa MA, Hollenberg NK, Anderson RB, et al.: Assessment by patient and spouse during antihypertensive therapy with atenolol and nifedipine GITS. Am J Hypertens 1991, 4:363–373.
Testa MA, Anderson RB, Nackley IF, et al.: Quality of life and antihypertensive therapy in men: a comparison of captopril and enalapril. N Engl J Med 1993, 328:907–913.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Nunes, M.I. The relationship between quality of life and adherence to treatment. Current Science Inc 3, 462–465 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11906-001-0007-9
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11906-001-0007-9