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The Socioeconomic Effects of Uncontrolled Hypertension
1Department of Health Economics, National School of Public Health, Athens. Greece.
Insights
Hypertension (HT) significantly impacts global health and healthcare costs. Effective management and prevention strategies are crucial for reducing disease burden and improving patient well-being.
Area of Science:
- Health Economics
- Public Health
- Cardiovascular Disease
Background:
- Hypertension (HT) is a major modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.
- HT contributes significantly to the global disease burden and healthcare expenditures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the international health economics literature on hypertension.
- To examine costs, patient well-being, intervention cost-effectiveness, and prevention strategies related to HT.
Main Methods:
- Narrative review of existing health economics literature.
- Synthesis of findings on HT-related costs and interventions.
Main Results:
- HT incurs substantial economic costs.
- Pharmaceutical interventions for high blood pressure show varying cost-effectiveness.
- Preventive measures offer significant costs and benefits.
Conclusions:
- HT represents a primary objective for international health policy.
- Evidence supports the economic rationale for addressing HT.
- Managing HT is essential for reducing healthcare costs and improving patient outcomes.
Background:
Hypertension (HT), albeit a modifiable risk factor of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, remains one of the main contributors to the total disease burden internationally and, thus, inevitably one of the basic cost drivers in healthcare systems.
Conclusion:
Taking the above into account, this brief narrative review aims at presenting the main findings of the international health economics literature on HT with regards to four key areas: a) the costs attributable to HT, b) the effects of HT on patient well-being, c) the cost-effectiveness of pharmaceutical interventions against high blood pressure, and, d) the costs and benefits of preventive measures against HT. Bearing in mind the available evidence on disease costs and the efficiency of interventions, HT must constitute a primary objective of modern health policy, internationally.