Measuring side-effects of beta-adrenoceptor antagonists: a comparison of two methods.

The prevalence of side-effects of beta-adrenoceptor antagonists among hypertensive patients was assessed by two methods. Using visual analogue scales, scores for tired legs, cold digits and vivid dreaming were significantly higher in patients taking beta-adrenoceptor blockers than in patients not taking beta-adrenoceptor blockers. When measured by numerical scales, from 1 to 10, these symptoms showed no relation to beta-adrenoceptor blocker treatment. The visual analogue scales were more sensitive than the numerical scales because the scores were distributed more evenly over the analogue scales.