Assessment of quality of life in a randomized clinical trial of candesartan only or in combination with DASH diet for hypertensive patients.

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.