[Pharmaco-economic aspects of the treatment of hypertension].
Hypertension affects a large proportion of the adult population. Subsequently any change in treatment strategy may have a drastic impact on health expenditure especially when one decides to decrease the limits of arterial pressure beyond which a treatment is started. Results of pharmaco-economic studies are often controversial because they are mainly based on an evaluation of short-term absolute risks, maybe underestimating the benefit of a treatment in younger population with mild to moderate hypertension. All groups of antihypertensive drugs are able to reduce the blood pressure and most of them can induce a light improvement of patient quality of life. Diuretics and beta-blockers have a lower cost/effectiveness ratio. ACE inhibitors and calcium antagonists may be preferred when other drugs are badly tolerated or when some other morbidities affect the patient.
Service de Pharmacie, Université de Liège.
J P
JP
Delporte
G
G
Rorive
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004232:Diuretics / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016527:Drug Costs; D017850:Economics, Pharmaceutical; D005102:Health Expenditures; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D004232:Diuretics