Objectives: A randomized clinical trial was used to compare the effects of an angiotensin II type 1 receptor inhibitor, candesartan, singly or in combination with a reducing sodium diet, the DASH diet, on the quality of life (QOL) in outpatients with hypertension.
Methods: After a 2-week wash out period with placebo, 102 patients with mild to moderate hypertension were randomly assigned to receive candesartan (8 to 16mg per day), and 99 patients were assigned to follow the DASH diet in addition to the same dose of candesartan, both for 16 weeks. Patients completed the Subjective Symptoms Assessment Profile questionnaire, just before treatment and at the end of treatment. ANOVA was used to analyze the QOL-score changes over time and compare treatments.
Results: Resting blood pressures were significantly reduced by the combination of candesartan and DASH diet (p < 0.005). Significant improvement was demonstrated for the mental component scores after 16 weeks of treatment with the combination of candesartan and DASH diet (p < 0.03).
Conclusions: Angiotensin II type 1 receptor blockade with a therapeutic dosage of candesartan maintains significant control of blood pressure and may improve QOL-scores, especially when combined with a reducing sodium diet.