The effects of temocapril, a new angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, on the quality of life in hypertensive patients

Abstract

A multicenter open study was performed to evaluate the hypotensive efficacy, safety, usefulness, and influence on quality of life of temocapril administered alone for 6 months. Sixty-two patients with essential hypertension, including 33 patients age 65 or older, were enrolled in the study. Of these 62 patients, 4 withdrew from treatment because of side effects, 1 because of insufficient hypotensive effects, and 2 for personal reasons. Temocapril, given at a dosage of 1 to 8 mg/day, produced a dose-dependent reduction in blood pressure without changing the pulse rate. Sufficient blood pressure reduction was achieved at the end of the study in 87.7% of the patients. Quality of life, as assessed by the attending physicians, was rated as “improved” in 67.9% of the patients. Significant improvements in mean quality-of-life scores were noted in “general symptoms,” “work performance and satisfaction,” “physical symptoms and general well-being,” “sleep,” “emotional state,” “self-control,” and “vitality.” Side effects occurred in 7 (11.5%) patients, including cough in (4.9%) 3. In the patients age 65 and older, significant improvement was obtained in “general symptoms,” “work performance and satisfaction,” “physical symptoms and general well-being,” and “emotional state.” These results indicate that long-term antihypertensive therapy with temocapril alone is useful for treating essential hypertension, even in elderly patients. In addition, this therapy has favorable effects on the patients' quality of life.