Effect of nilvadipine on quality of life in patients with essential hypertension

The effect of antihypertensive therapy with nilvadipine on the quality of life (QOL) was evaluated in patients with essential hypertension in a multicenter open trial. Nilvadipine was administered alone in a dose of 8 mg daily (in two divided doses, that is, in the morning and in the evening) for 12 months and the QOL was evaluated before treatment and at months 6 and 12 of treatment. Sixty-two patients (age, 65 ± 9 years [mean ± SD]) were included in the QOL assessment. Blood pressure was lowered significantly from 170 ± 11/97 ± 9 mmHg before treatment to 142 ± 12/82 ± 10 mm Hg (P < 0.01) at month 6 of treatment and 139 ± 10/81 ± 8 mmHg (P < 0.01) at month 12 of treatment. Side effects occurred in two cases (3.1%): stomatitis in one case and edema in one. Significant improvements in the QOL occurred in general symptoms; work performance and satisfaction; physical symptoms and general well-being; sleep; emotional status; and self-control. These results suggest that nilvadipine monotherapy improves the QOL of patients with essential hypertension, causes very few side effects, and, therefore, is clinically useful antihypertensive therapy.