Care of hypertensives in Dalby: organisation and health economic aspects.

We have investigated 1,051 treated hypertensives of both sexes in the Dalby primary health care (PHC) district, Sweden, to evaluate the organisation and the total cost of treatment. Male hypertensives (n = 486) made 1.78 physician visits annually and had a mean on-treatment BP of 160/91 mmHg. Correspondingly, female hypertensives (n = 565) made 1.67 visits and had a mean attained BP of 164/91 mmHg. The drug profile was dominated by the use of beta-receptor-blockers in 38% of all patients but the newer antihypertensive drugs (calcium antagonists, ACE inhibitors) were also commonly used. The total cost of treatment (drugs, consultations, time and travel expenses) was calculated to 2,680 SEK/patient/year, which is similar to that found in a previous study from another PHC district in Sweden, 2,660 SEK/drug-treated patient/year (after adjustment for increasing consumer price index, +29%, between the years of the studies, 1988-91). In conclusion, the hypertensives in Dalby were fairly well controlled according to BP levels. The treatment cost was higher than that of other PHC areas, which should be the focus of further analyses of cost-effectiveness.