[Hypertension: economic aspects]

The data are provided on the economic losses caused by hypertonic disease (HD) to the national economy of Lithuania in 1980 which are estimated as the sum of money spent by the state on curative and preventive measures and economic losses due to temporary disability, invalidity and premature deaths. Economic losses including damage caused by temporary disability, invalidity and premature deaths accounted for 11.1 million roubles. The major losses were caused by temporary disability. They topped the economic damage due to premature deaths by more than two times. State expenditures on curative and preventive care for hypertonic patients in the structure of economic losses accounted for only 10.6%.