THE EFFECTS OF DIURETICS ON QUALITY-OF-LIFE OF HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS

Objectives: To study the effect of diuretics and diuretics discontinua tion on the quality of life (QOL) of hypertensive patients. Methods: 1 49 beta blocker treated mild to moderate hypertensive patients were in cluded in the study. Seventy-three were treated by beta blockers (BB's ) only and 60 by BB's and diuretics, for 40 patients diuretics was dis continued. Physical symptoms and QOL were assessed before and 9-15 mon ths after the change in treatment. Results: At baseline, subjects on d iuretics experienced more gastrointestinal symptoms, weakness, and sex related problems; and their QOL was poorer. At the end of the follow- up, patients on diuretics scored poorest on physical strength items an d on health perceptions; those who were never treated by diuretics sco red best; and those who stopped were in between. Conclusions: Diuretic s treatment adversely affect patients' QOL. Cessation of diuretics tre atment for at least 9 months improved some aspects of patients' QOL, t hough those who never received diuretics were better off than others.