Association Between Blood Pressure Lowering and Quality of Life by Treatment of Azilsartan

The authors assessed the effects of switching from a conventional angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) to azilsartan on blood pressure (BP) and health-related quality of life (HR-QOL) in patients with uncontrolled hypertension. Key eligibility criteria were uncontrolled hypertension treated for ≥ 1 month with an ARB, excluding azilsartan, that did not reach the target BP. We recruited 147 patients (64 males and 83 females; mean ± standard deviation age 73 ± 15 years). Azilsartan reduced both systolic and diastolic BP significantly, from 151 ± 16/82 ± 12 to 134 ± 17/73 ± 12 mm Hg, 3 months after switching. Although scores on the comprehensive QOL scale, the EuroQoL 5 dimensions (EQ5D), and the simplified menopausal index (SMI) did not change, the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) score improved significantly, and there was a significant association between the change in the GDS score and systolic BP lowering (r = 0.2554, P = 0.030). The Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) improved significantly only in the female subgroup. Besides sufficient BP lowering activity, anti-hypertensive treatment with azilsartan may have a favorable impact on depression in geriatric patients with uncontrolled hypertension.