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The cost of treating high blood pressure in general practice in France

Yaël Tibi-Levy1, Gérard de Pouvourville, Jérémie Westerloppe

  • 1CERMES, CNRS UMR 8169-EHESS-INSERM U750, 7, rue Guy Môquet, 94801, Villejuif, France.

The European Journal of Health Economics : HEPAC : Health Economics in Prevention and Care
|June 15, 2007
PubMed

Insights

The average annual cost to treat high blood pressure in France was 597 euros per patient. Costs included doctor visits, medications, and tests, with drug expenses being the largest component.

Area of Science:

  • Health Economics
  • Cardiology
  • General Practice

Background:

  • Hypertension is a prevalent condition requiring ongoing medical management.
  • Understanding the economic burden of hypertension treatment is crucial for healthcare planning.
  • French general practitioners play a key role in managing patients with high blood pressure.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To estimate the annual cost of treating hypertension by French general practitioners.
  • To analyze cost components including visits, medications, and complementary tests.
  • To compare costs based on hypertension control levels.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of computerized medical records from 28,015 patients with hypertension or a history of hypertension.
  • Inclusion of costs related to medical consultations, prescribed drugs, and additional diagnostic tests.
  • Three-year study period to capture longitudinal treatment expenses.

Main Results:

  • The average annual treatment cost for hypertension was 597 euros (SD 377 euros).
  • Annual drug costs averaged 447 euros, with antihypertensive medications accounting for 258 euros.
  • Patients with controlled hypertension incurred lower average annual costs (537 euros) compared to those who deteriorated (612 euros).

Conclusions:

  • Hypertension management represents a significant financial commitment within the French healthcare system.
  • Drug costs constitute a substantial portion of the overall treatment expenditure.
  • Effective blood pressure control may lead to reduced healthcare costs over time.

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