Cost-effectiveness evaluation of a collaborative patient education hypertension intervention in Utah

This study analyzed the cost-effectiveness of a patient hypertension education intervention that provided patient education through interactive voice response technology and distribution of automated blood pressure monitors to high-risk plan members with uncontrolled hypertension. A total of 17,318 members were identified with hypertension in an administrative database. The study sample consisted of all 534 high-risk hypertensive plan members who received blood pressure monitors. Using data on activity-based program costs and changes in hypertension control, this study modeled the intervention's cost-effectiveness relative to no intervention. The intervention was estimated to have brought hypertension under control in 151 patients during the study year. Across all 534 participants in 1 year, 0.3 events (acute myocardial infarction, stroke, congestive heart failure, and renal failure) were avoided and 2.77 life-years were gained (LYG). The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) for the intervention compared with no intervention was $767 per person brought under control or $41,927 per LYG. If the gains in hypertension control from 1 year's investment were assumed to last 10 years, the 10-year ICER relative to no intervention was $1857 per LYG. The intervention is a cost-effective strategy to address hypertension and can serve as a model for future innovations.