Industrial hypertension program in a rural state. Efficacy and cost effectiveness

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Occupational Medicine
• Cardiovascular Disease

Background:

• Hypertension remains a significant public health concern, particularly in industrial settings.
• Effective screening and treatment programs are crucial for managing cardiovascular risk in working populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of a hypertension detection and treatment program.
• To assess patient compliance and treatment outcomes in an industrial population.

Main Methods:

• A program involving trained technicians for screening and private physicians for therapy initiation was implemented.
• One-year follow-up included rescreening (83%) and telephone contact (91%) of hypertensive patients.
• Patient compliance with physician visits was monitored for moderate to severe hypertension cases.

Main Results:

• Eighty-three percent of patients with moderate or severe hypertension complied with physician visits.
• Sixty percent of treated patients achieved controlled hypertension, while 74% showed improvement.
• Total annual costs were $250 per treated patient, $446 per controlled patient, and $362 per controlled or improved patient.

Conclusions:

• The program demonstrated moderate success in controlling and improving hypertension in an industrial setting.
• Cost analysis provides valuable data for public health and occupational medicine interventions.
• Further strategies may be needed to enhance treatment efficacy and patient adherence.