[Effects of combination therapy with losartan/hydrochlorothiazide on the relationships between base blood pressure, autonomic function, and health-related QOL].

We reported on the relationship between base blood pressure (BP), autonomic function and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in healthy adults. The aim of the present study was to examine the relationship between the antihypertensive effects, autonomic function, and HRQOL following the treatment of hypertensive subjects with losartan/hydrochlorothiazide in hypertensives. In the 10 hypertensive patients treated with angiotensin receptor blockers for more than 1 month, combination therapy with losartan/hydrochlorothiazide was conducted for 3 months after the cessation of treatment with angiotensin receptor blockers. Either immediately before the onset of combination therapy or 3 months after the treatment, 24-h ambulatory BP and pulse wave velocity (PWV) were measured. Sympathetic nervous activity (ratio of low frequency to high frequency component: LF/HF) and parasympathetic nervous activity (high frequency component: HF) were calculated by heart rate variability. Quality of life (HRQOL) was assessed by the Medical Outcome Study Short-Forum 36-Item Health Survey (SF-36). All of the participants completed the study. Losartan/hydrochlorothiazide combination therapy reduced base BP(from 114 +/- 5 to 100 +/- 3 mmHg; p < 0.03)and 24-h LF/HF (from 1.48 +/- 0.18 to 0.94 +/- 0.20; p < 0.02). However, heart rates and PWV were not influenced by losartan/hydrochlorothiazide treatment. The HRQOL scores improved during the study (p < 0.05). These findings indicated that losartan/hydrochlorothiazide was associated with an improvement in base BP relative to daytime BP, autonomic function and HRQOL.