title: Significant cost-saving with modification of antihypertensive therapy.
abstract: Thirty patients attending Somerset Hospital Outpatient Department, Cape Town, who were on nifedipine for hypertension or chest pain, were followed up for 6 months after alternative therapy was instituted. After the change of treatment, blood pressure control improved and no serious side-effects were encountered. Reserpine combined with a thiazide was a major component of the new regimen which reduced the monthly cost per patient from R54 to R14, a saving of 73%. If this saving was extended to 5% of the potential hypertensive patients in the RSA it would amount to R8 million per month. Although a self-assessment depression inventory was completed by 21 patients, our study does not fully evaluate the impact on quality of life. The likelihood of side-effects is, however, small--provided that the maximum daily dose of reserpine does not exceed 0.1 mg. We feel that a more considered approach is needed in the choice of antihypertensive agents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town.
authors.forename: G R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Keeton
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Monteagudo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000584:Amiloride / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003363:Cost Control / Q000191:economics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D000584:Amiloride; D009543:Nifedipine