A review of cost-effectiveness analyses of hypertension treatment.
In this paper cost-effectiveness analyses of hypertension treatment are reviewed. Nine studies using life-years gained or quality-adjusted life-years gained as outcome measure are identified, summarised, and their results analysed.  It is noted that there is a lack of methodological conformity between the studies, which makes comparisons difficult.  The only consistent finding among the studies is that the cost-effectiveness increased with higher pretreatment blood pressure.  The studies also indicated that treatment of hypertension is more cost-effective in younger men than in younger women, and that cost-effectiveness increases with age for both men and women.  It is impossible at present to draw any policy conclusions from the cost-effectiveness analyses comparing different drugs, owing to poor methodology and insufficient data.  For the future it is important to upgrade the quality of the cost-effectiveness analyses in this area by improving both the data and the methodology used.  There is also a need to complement cost-effectiveness analysis with other approaches, for example willingness to pay.
Centre for Health Economics, Stockholm School of Economics, Sweden.
M
M
Johannesson
B
B
Jönsson
D000367:Age Factors; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D016527:Drug Costs; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D026712:Value of Life