Antihypertensive Treatment with Candesartan Monotherapy Does Not Improve the Quality of Life of Finnish Hypertensive Patients

Table 1: Study Protocol

	Week	Procedure^*	Antihypertensive Treatment
Base-line visit	-2	Physical examination	Previous medication stopped, placebo initiated
First visit	0	Office BP measurement	8mg candesartan started
Second visit	6	Office BP measurement	If diastolic pressure >80 dose increasing regimen^* adopted
Third visit	12	Office BP measurement	If diastolic pressure >80 dose increasing regimen^** adopted
Fourth visit	18	Office BP measurement	If diastolic pressure >80 dose increasing regimen^** adopted
Final visit	24	Office BP measurement	Ordinary antihypertensive treatment started

^* 24h ambulatory BP measurement; home blood pressure measurement (HBPM); SF questionnaire filled before each visit

^** = Candesartan dose doubled to 16 mg od then add-on hydrochlorothiazide (12.5mg or 25mg) and thereafter felodipine 5 mg od.

The patient was randomized at the first visit either to treatment according to HBPM or 24h ambulatory measurement.