PharmacoEconomics & Outcomes News 649 - 17 Mar 2012

BP programmes to prevent strokeworthwhile in Australia?

The researchers of a study, published in Stroke, saythat "organized care for BP control targeted at specificpopulations offers excellent value over current practice"for the prevention of stroke in Australia.

They used the updated MORUCOS* model tocompare the lifetime cost effectiveness of five primaryand two secondary BP control interventions versuscurrent practice in a hypothetical cohort of patients aged≥ 30 years. The primary prevention interventionsassessed BP control and stroke risk in patientsaged 30–69 years, 45–49 years, 55–84 years with highBP or with a ≥ 15% absolute risk of stroke, oraged ≥ 75 years; whereas, the secondary preventioninterventions included treatment with ACE inhibitorsplus diuretics and any antihypertensive therapy.

The secondary prevention interventions were morecost effective than the primary prevention interventionswith incremental costs per QALY gained of $A1811,**

and $4704 versus current practice. The primaryinterventions that targeted patients aged ≥ 75 years, andpatients aged 55–84 years with high BP or increasedstroke risk were cost effective versus current practice(incremental costs per QALY gained of < $50 000);whereas, the other two interventions were not.* Model or Resource Utilization Costs and Outcomes of Stroke** societal costs valued in 2004 Australian dollars ($A)

Cadilhac DA, et al. Organized Blood Pressure Control Programs to Prevent Strokein Australia: Would They Be Cost-Effective? Stroke : 23 Feb 2012. Availablefrom: URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1161/strokeaha.111.634949 803068067

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PharmacoEconomics & Outcomes News 17 Mar 2012 No. 6491173-5503/10/0649-0001/$14.95 © 2010 Adis Data Information BV. All rights reserved