PBS/RPBS cost implications of trends and guideline recommendations in the pharmacological management of hypertension in Australia, 1994-1998.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the extent to which "current guidelines" for the management of hypertension are reflected in the prescribing of antihypertensive drugs in Australia over the period 1994-1998, and to examine the cost implications of actual and recommended prescribing patterns.


METHODS
Federal Government and consumer cost estimates modelled on prescribing patterns and guideline recommendations over the period 1994-1998.


METHODS
Prescribing on Federal Government pharmaceutical schemes over the 1994-1998 period.


METHODS
Estimates of Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme/Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme cost changes in Australian dollar values.


RESULTS
The implementation of current guidelines for patients with uncomplicated hypertension taking monotherapy alone could have reduced drug costs by $45-$108 million in 1998.


CONCLUSIONS
Current prescribing patterns indicate that clinical practice has pre-empted the results from clinical trials of newer, more expensive agents and that clinicians' prescribing patterns do not closely reflect current recommendations.
Nelson
M R
MR
Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash Medical School, Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, VIC. mark.nelson@med.monash.edu.au
McNeil
J J
JJ
Peeters
A
A
Reid
C M
CM
Krum
H
H
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000191:economics*; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D016527:Drug Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000191:economics; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000191:economics*; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000191:economics*; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000191:economics*; D018579:Patient Selection; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000191:economics*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents