Economics of hypertension control: a statement by the World Hypertension League

While expenditures for hypertension are on the increase in developed countries, and potentially also in the developing world, resource constraints, even in the most affluent countries, need to consider hypertension control in the context of other demands of society. This position paper sums up the key aspects of the debate: problems of estimating the economic burden of hypertension and hypertension-related disease; the use of economic models; and opportunities for containing the costs. Direct healthcare costs of hypertension are amenable to calculations; but more information is needed on the population attributable risk of hypertension in various countries, indispensable to estimate the part of hypertension in the burden of stroke and heart disease. The population and the high-risk approach to hypertension control also have economic consequences; these may vary in different societies and need to be assessed to ensure appropriate allocation of resources. Cost containment can be achieved i.a. by more selective diagnostic investigations, and by opting for cheaper drugs, though the choice of treatment is difficult owing to uncertainties in the quality-of-life estimates. The economics of hypertension is a complex field, calling for continued research and monitoring.