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Cost of hypertension control at the workplace
Insights
Workplace hypertension treatment is cost-effective, with costs significantly lower than private or hospital settings. Costs decrease initially and stabilize by the fourth year, with fewer revisits needed for blood pressure control.
Area of Science:
- Occupational health
- Health economics
- Cardiovascular disease management
Background:
- Hypertension management in occupational settings presents unique cost considerations.
- Previous studies have not comprehensively analyzed the long-term cost-effectiveness of workplace hypertension treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a cost analysis of hypertension treatment provided in a workplace setting.
- To compare workplace treatment costs with those in private practice and hospital outpatient departments.
- To evaluate the trends in constant dollar costs over a four-year period.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of patient costs for hypertension treatment in 1978.
- Detailed breakdown of cost distribution by category (personnel, drugs, supplies, etc.).
- Longitudinal cost tracking over four years to assess trends.
Main Results:
- Average patient cost in 1978 was $194.77, significantly lower than other care settings.
- Cost distribution: clinical personnel (26.7%), administrative personnel (26.7%), drugs (23.9%), etc.
- Constant dollar costs declined over the first three years, stabilizing by the fourth year.
Conclusions:
- Workplace hypertension treatment offers a cost-effective alternative to traditional healthcare settings.
- Initial increases in drug costs are offset by reduced revisits, leading to overall cost reduction.
- Long-term management demonstrates cost stabilization and efficiency gains in occupational health programs.
Abstract:
A cost analysis of hypertension treatment at the workplace indicates that average patient cost in 1978 was $194.77. The distribution of cost is: clinical personnel, 26.7%; administrative personnel, 26.7%; drugs, 23.9%; laboratory, 3.4%; clinical supplies, 1.1%; general supplies and other operating expenses, 8.7%; equipment use, 1.0%; and rent, 2.6%. This aggregate cost is well below that reported for care provided in private practice and hospital outpatient department settings. The study further indicates that the constant dollar cost of care declines over the first three of four years and begins to stabilize at the fourth year. During the initial three-year period drug costs rise, but fewer revisits are required to attain and maintain blood pressure control. Drug utilization and the number of revisits per year stabilize at the fourth year.