[Cost-effectiveness of hypertension treatment in Catalonia (Spain)].
BACKGROUND
We assessed the cost-effectiveness of pharmacological treatments for hypertension to prevent coronary heart disease and stroke in Catalonia (Spain).


METHODS
Cost-effectiveness was measured as the cost in Spanish Ptas per life year gained (LYG) in 1998 in individuals aged 40 to 69 years with moderate/severe hypertension (>= 105 mmHg) and mild hypertension (95-104 mmHg). We evaluated hydrochlorothiazide (diuretic), propranolol (-blocker), nifedipine (calcium antagonist), captopril (angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitor) and prazosin (*-adrenergic blocker).


RESULTS
Cost-effectiveness ranged from 706,100 to 446,780 ptas. per LYG in men and from 635,100 to 810,270 ptas. per LYG in women with moderate/severe hypertension and from 108,770 to 682,460 ptas. per LYG in men and from 101,000 to 12,699,000 ptas. per LYG in women with mild hypertension. Incremental cost-effectiveness analysis showed that hydrochlorothiazide and propranolol were the most cost-effective treatments in individuals with moderate/severe hypertension while hydrochlorothiazide and nifedipine were most cost-effective in those with mild hypertension.


CONCLUSIONS
In this study, greatest-to-lowest cost-effectiveness of assessed treatments was as follows: hydrochlorohiazide, propranolol, nifedipine, prazosin and captopril in moderate/severe hypertension and hydrochlorothiazide, nifedipine, propranolol, prazosin and captopril in mild hypertension.
Plans Rubió
Pedro
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Servei d'Avaluació i Seguiment de Programes, Direcció General de Salut Pública, Departament de Sanitat, Barcelona, Spain.
Tresserras Gaju
Ricard
R
Navas Alcalá
Encarna
E
Pardell Alentá
Helios
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013030:Spain