COST-BENEFIT-ANALYSIS OF NONPHARMACOLOGICAL TREATMENT OF HYPERTENSION

In this study a non-pharmacological treatment (NPT) programme and conventional drug treatment of hypertension was compared in a cost-benefit analysis. The NPT programme involved 400 patients and was conducted at 8 health centres during the period 1984-1986. It consisted of monthly visits by a nurse, visits by a doctor every 6 months, home blood pressure (BP) measurements, dietary advice, relaxation, physical activity, etc. The patients were also followed up for 2 years after the study to assess whether the programme still worked, and whether future treatment costs were affected. The treatment costs were about SEK 5300 higher per patient for the NPT programme. The benefits, in the form of reduced treatment costs for the period 1986-1988 and willingness to pay (WTP) for the NPT programme, were about SEK 3200. Thus the NPT programme resulted in a loss of about SEK 2100 per patient. However, a longer follow-up period is needed for any specific conclusions to be drawn about the costs and benefits of the NPT programme, as compared with conventional drug treatment.