Screening for mild hypertension: costs and benefits

Area of Science:

• Health economics
• Public health
• Cardiovascular disease management

Background:

• Implementing new National Health Service (NHS) screening and treatment programs requires thorough cost-benefit analysis.
• Mild hypertension management is a key area for public health intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the cost-effectiveness of community-based screening versus general practice case-finding for mild hypertension.
• To estimate the cost per life year extended by a general practice-based hypertension program.

Main Methods:

• Cost analysis of community-based screening for mild hypertension.
• Cost analysis of case-finding for mild hypertension within general practice settings.
• Calculation of the cost per life year extended based on a five-year program projection.

Main Results:

• Case-finding in general practice is identified as a less expensive and more efficient strategy compared to community-based screening.
• The study provides a minimum cost estimate for extending a life through a general practice-based hypertension program.

Conclusions:

• General practice case-finding presents a more economically viable approach for mild hypertension management within the NHS.
• The findings support the implementation of case-finding strategies in primary care for improved health outcomes and resource allocation.