Related Experiment Videos
[Analysis of direct costs of controlling arterial hypertension]
M Borrell1, M A Méndez, T Gros
1Area Básica de Salud La Mina, Sant Adrià de Besòs, Barcelona.
Insights
This study analyzed hypertension patient care costs, finding that diabetes and prescribed medications increase healthcare visits. Introducing new treatments like Angiotensin Enzyme Conversion Inhibitors significantly raises hypertension management expenses.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacoeconomics
- Cardiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Hypertension management involves regular patient monitoring and pharmaceutical prescriptions.
- Understanding the economic impact of hypertension care is crucial for healthcare resource allocation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze patient attendance frequency and direct pharmaceutical costs associated with a year-long hypertension monitoring program.
- To identify factors influencing healthcare utilization and medication expenses in hypertensive patients.
Main Methods:
- A prospective observational study was conducted with 220 hypertensive patients undergoing arterial pressure monitoring.
- Data collected included patient demographics, cardiovascular risk factors, arterial pressure, attendance rates, and prescribed treatments.
- Pharmaceutical costs were calculated based on dosages and a 1990 drug compendium.
Main Results:
- The monitoring level achieved was 43.6%. Patients averaged 12.8 attendances, with 7.9 specifically for hypertension management.
- Diabetic patients showed higher hypertension-related attendance rates (8.8 vs 7.5, p < 0.05).
- Pharmaceutical treatment was prescribed for 83.2% of patients, with costs correlating to hypertension severity and attendance frequency. Angiotensin Enzyme Conversion Inhibitors (AECI) represented the highest monthly mean cost per patient.
Conclusions:
- Patient attendance frequency is linked to the presence of diabetes and the number of prescribed medications.
- The incorporation of AECI and calcium antagonists as first-line treatments significantly increases the cost of hypertension control.
Objective:
To analyse the number of attendances and the direct cost of pharmaceutical prescription arising from a year-long monitoring of hypertense patients.
Setting:
Health Centre.
Design:
A prospective observation study.
Patients:
220 hypertense patients, undergoing arterial pressure (AP) monitoring, were chosen by means of systematic random sampling.
Measurements And Main Results:
The variables of age, gender, cardiovascular risk factors, AP, monitoring level (criterion AP < 160-90 mmHg), attendances and treatment used were analysed. The pharmaceutical cost was calculated in line with the dosages and according to the 1990 Vademecum. The monitoring level was 43.6%. The total number of attendances per patient were 12.8 +/- 6.43 and those for hypertension, 7.9 +/- 3.5. Diabetics attended more for hypertension (8.8 vs 7.5, p < 0.05). Pharmaceutical treatment was prescribed for 183 people (83.2%). The number of drugs was correlated with the severity of the hypertension and the number of attendances. Overall drug cost was 429,571 pesetas per month. Average monthly cost per patient was 2,348.69 +/- 2,318.92 pesetas (range 90.5-12,856.5). Angiotensin enzyme conversion inhibitors (AECI) made for the greatest monthly mean cost per patient (4,352.9 pesetas) and diuretics, the least (322.2 pesetas).
Conclusion:
Frequency of attendance is related to the presence of diabetes and the number of drugs prescribed. The introduction of AECI and Calcium antagonists into first-line treatment represents an important increase in the cost of controlling Hypertension.