THE COSTS OF TREATING HYPERTENSION - AN ANALYSIS OF DIFFERENT CUTOFF POINTS

In this article the effects of different cut-off points for hypertension treatment are analysed, with respect to treatment costs. A theoretical blood pressure distribution is used to calculate the potential annual cost of treating all persons in Sweden above certain cut-off points for drug treatment. A lowering of the cut-off point from 105 mm Hg to 100 mm Hg diastolic blood pressure could potentially lead to an increase in annual costs of approximately £80m. Further lowering from 100 to 95 mm Hg in turn could increase annual costs by about £110m. The potential annual cost of treating all persons (roughly 1.6million) with a diastolic blood pressure of ≥95 mm Hg with drugs is calculated as being roughly £40 per inhabitant in Sweden. The Swedish cut-off point for treatment (95 mm Hg) can be expected to lead to roughly 50 per cent higher treatment costs than the British cut-off point (100 mm Hg). © 1991.