title: Comprehensive overview: efficacy, tolerability, and cost-effectiveness of irbesartan.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hypertension represents a major health problem, affecting more than one billion adults worldwide. Irbesartan, an angiotensin II receptor blocker, is considered to be a highly effective treatment in the management of hypertension. The purpose of this review is to evaluate the efficacy, safety and tolerability profile, and cost-effectiveness of treatment with irbesartan in hypertension.
  
  
  METHODS
  A review of the literature was conducted using the electronic PubMed and Cochrane Library databases and the Health Economic Evaluations Database of search terms relating to irbesartan efficacy, tolerability, and cost-effectiveness, and the results were utilized.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Findings from the present analysis show that irbesartan either as monotherapy or in combination with other antihypertensive agents can achieve significant reductions in blood pressure, both systolic and diastolic, compared with alternative treatment options. Irbesartan was also found to have a renoprotective effect independent of its blood pressure-lowering in patients with type 2 diabetes and nephropathy. Furthermore, irbesartan demonstrated an excellent safety and tolerability profile, with either lower or equal adverse events compared with placebo and other alternative treatments. In terms of economic analyses, compared with other antihypertensive therapy alternatives, irbesartan was found to be a preferred option, that is less costly and more effective.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The evidence indicates that treating patients with hypertension alone or with type 2 diabetes and nephropathy using irbesartan can control hypertension, prolong life, and reduce costs in relation to existing alternatives.
authors.affiliation: Health Services Organisation and Management, National School of Public Health, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Fotini
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gialama
authors.forename: Nikos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Maniadakis
mesh_terms: D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D003928:Diabetic Nephropathies / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D016527:Drug Costs; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000077405:Irbesartan; D018803:Models, Economic; D019057:Quality-Adjusted Life Years; D013777:Tetrazoles / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D013777:Tetrazoles; D000077405:Irbesartan
keywords: cost-effectiveness; economic evaluation; efficacy; irbesartan; safety; tolerability