Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 5, 2026
Author Spotlight: Assessing Ischemic Stroke Damage Through Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion Model
Published on: August 11, 2023
Cost-effectiveness of Antihypertensive Medication: Exploring Race and Sex Differences Using Data From the REasons for
Gabriel S Tajeu1, Stephen Mennemeyer, Nir Menachemi
1Departments of *Epidemiology †Health Care Organization and Policy, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL ‡Department of Health Policy and Management, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN §Department of Health Services Administration, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL.
Insights
Antihypertensive medication is cost-saving and improves quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) for all adults with hypertension. This treatment is particularly beneficial for black adults, demonstrating significant cost-effectiveness and health gains.
Area of Science:
- Health Economics
- Cardiovascular Disease Prevention
- Health Disparities
Background:
- Antihypertensive medication reduces cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in hypertensive adults.
- Black adults face higher hypertension prevalence and worse CVD outcomes than white adults.
- Limited research exists on the cost-effectiveness of antihypertensive medication for black populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the cost-effectiveness of antihypertensive medication versus no treatment in white and black adults.
- To evaluate the impact on costs and quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs).
Main Methods:
- A State Transition Model was developed using data from the REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study and published literature.
- The model assessed costs and QALYs for treatment versus no-treatment scenarios.
- Included CVD events like stroke, coronary heart disease, heart failure, and chronic kidney disease.
Main Results:
- Antihypertensive medication treatment was cost-saving and increased QALYs across all demographic groups.
- Cost-savings and QALY gains were observed for white men, white women, black men, and black women.
- Specific QALY gains ranged from 0.89 to 1.79, with higher gains in black adults.
Conclusions:
- Antihypertensive medication treatment is a cost-saving strategy that enhances QALYs for all studied populations.
- The benefits are particularly pronounced among black adults, highlighting its importance in addressing health disparities.
Background:
Antihypertensive medication decreases risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) events in adults with hypertension. Although black adults have higher prevalence of hypertension and worse CVD outcomes compared with whites, limited attention has been given to the cost-effectiveness of antihypertensive medication for blacks.
Objective:
To compare the cost-effectiveness of antihypertensive medication treatment versus no-treatment in white and black adults.
Research Design:
We constructed a State Transition Model to assess the costs and quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) associated with either antihypertensive medication treatment or no-treatment using data from the REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study and published literature. CVD events and health states considered in the model included stroke, coronary heart disease, heart failure, chronic kidney disease, and end-stage renal disease.
Subjects:
White and black adults with hypertension in the United States, 45 years of age and above.
Measures:
Yearly risk of CVD was determined using REGARDS data and published literature. Antihypertensive medication costs were determined using Medicare claims. Event and health state costs were estimated from published literature. All costs were adjusted to 2012 US dollars. Effectiveness was assessed using QALYs.
Results:
Antihypertensive medication treatment was cost-saving and increased QALYs compared with no-treatment for white men ($7387; 1.14 QALYs), white women ($7796; 0.89 QALYs), black men ($8400; 1.66 QALYs), and black women ($10,249; 1.79 QALYs).
Conclusions:
Antihypertensive medication treatment is cost-saving and increases QALYs for all groups considered in the model, particularly among black adults.
More Related Videos
03:05Influence of Emotional Factors on the Efficacy of Acupuncture Treatment for Overweight Complicated with Hyperlipidemia: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Published on: November 21, 2025
06:55Inverse Probability of Treatment Weighting Propensity Score using the Military Health System Data Repository and National Death Index
Published on: January 8, 2020
Related Concept Videos
01:15Chronopharmacokinetics: Circadian Rhythms and Influence on Drug Response
The time of drug administration is an important factor to consider, as it can influence the toxic dose of a drug. For example, a study conducted by Prins et al. in 1997 examined the effects of the timing of...
01:26Heart Failure Drugs: Inhibitors of Renin-Angiotensin System
01:25Antianginal Drugs: Calcium Channel Blockers and Ranolazine
CCBs, a diverse class that includes dihydropyridines (nifedipine) and diphenylalkylamines (verapamil and diltiazem), exert their effect by blocking calcium channels in cardiac and smooth muscle cells. This...
01:28Hypertension IV: Drug Therapy and Lifestyle Modifications
01:26Atherosclerosis III: Management
01:25Antihypertensive Drugs: Direct Renin Inhibitors