Related Experiment Videos

Health care cost of analgesic use in hypertensive patients

C Daniel Mullins1, Fadia T Shaya, Louis R Flowers

  • 1Center on Drugs and Public Policy, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, Baltimore, Maryland, USA. dmullins@rx.maryland.edu

Clinical Therapeutics
|March 25, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Uncontrolled hypertension significantly increases healthcare costs for patients using analgesics. Managing blood pressure effectively can reduce expenses related to emergency visits and hospitalizations.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Economics
  • Cardiovascular Health
  • Pharmacoeconomics

Background:

  • Hypertension is a prevalent chronic condition in the US, posing significant financial and social burdens.
  • Analgesic use is common among patients with hypertension.
  • Effective hypertension management is crucial for reducing healthcare expenditure.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare healthcare resource costs for hypertensive patients using analgesics.
  • To stratify costs based on controlled versus uncontrolled hypertension status.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of managed-care patient data (February 1999 - July 2001).
  • Stratification of hypertensive patients on analgesics by hypertension control using a claims-based algorithm.
  • Comparison of annualized healthcare costs before and after analgesic initiation, stratified by hypertension control.

Main Results:

  • Patients with uncontrolled hypertension incurred significantly higher total annualized costs ($2,568 more).
  • Uncontrolled hypertension led to higher costs for emergency department visits (9.3%) and hospitalizations (28.0%).
  • Post-index period costs were higher for uncontrolled hypertension ($2,961) compared to controlled ($1,972).

Conclusions:

  • Healthcare resource costs are substantially higher for analgesic users with uncontrolled hypertension.
  • A significant portion of the cost difference is linked to hypertension-specific treatment.
  • Optimizing hypertension control in patients using analgesics may lead to considerable cost savings.
Abstract

Related Concept Videos

Analgesia and Pain Management01:25

Analgesia and Pain Management

Pain is critical to various clinical pathologies, provoking an urgent need for effective management. Pain, whether acute or chronic, is a complex neurochemical process. Its alleviation depends on the type, with nonopioid analgesics effective for mild to moderate pain, such as musculoskeletal or inflammatory pain, while neuropathic pain responds best to anticonvulsants, tricyclic antidepressants, or serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors. For severe acute or chronic pain, opioids may be...
Opioid Analgesics: Synthetic and Semisynthetic Opioids01:15

Opioid Analgesics: Synthetic and Semisynthetic Opioids

Synthetic and semisynthetic opioids are pivotal in pain management and tackling opioid addiction. Semisynthetic opioids, including morphinans (morphine derivatives), oxycodone, oxymorphone, hydrocodone, and hydromorphone, have improved pharmacokinetic profiles compared to morphine. Additionally, heroin and 6-MAM (6-Monoacetylmorphine) show better CNS penetration than morphine due to heightened lipid solubility. Hydromorphone, a potent opioid, undergoes hepatic metabolism to form the active...
Special considerations while measuring blood pressure01:28

Special considerations while measuring blood pressure

When assessing blood pressure (BP), healthcare professionals must consider various factors and potential unexpected outcomes to ensure accurate readings and provide proper patient care. Adhering to these guidelines is essential to achieving the most reliable results.
Monitoring Both Arms:
Monitoring BP in both arms during the initial assessment is advisable, as the systolic value may differ by five to ten mm Hg between arms. For subsequent BP assessments, use the arm with the higher reading.
Hypertension and Regulation of Blood Pressure01:18

Hypertension and Regulation of Blood Pressure

Hypertension, the most common cardiovascular disease, is diagnosed through repeated measurements of elevated blood pressure. Its risks, including damage to the kidney, heart, and brain, are directly proportional to blood pressure levels. Starting from 115/75 mm Hg, the risk of cardiovascular disease doubles with each increment of 20/10 mm Hg. The diagnosis relies on blood pressure measurements, not on patient symptoms, as hypertension is often asymptomatic until end-organ damage is imminent or...
Hypertension III: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies01:30

Hypertension III: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies

Hypertension is asymptomatic and also referred to as the "silent killer" until it progresses to a severe stage or causes target organ disease. Patients may experience symptoms stemming from the strain on blood vessels and tissues in various organs or the heart's increased workload.Physical exams might show no abnormalities other than high blood pressure. Signs of vascular damage, when present, correspond to the organs supplied by the affected vessels, leading to target organ damage. For...
Hypertension V: Nursing Management01:23

Hypertension V: Nursing Management

The nursing management of hypertension involves accurately assessing symptoms, making a comprehensive nursing diagnosis, collaborating with patients to set goals, and implementing targeted interventions to mitigate the condition's impact and improve patient well-being.Comprehensive AssessmentThe initial step in nursing care for hypertension involves a thorough patient assessment. It includes evaluating symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, blurred vision, and previous hypertension episodes.