Direct Costs of Hypertension Treatment in Iran



Zamandi M¹ ; Daroudi R¹ ; Sari AA¹ Show Affiliations
Source: Iranian Journal of Public Health Published:2023

Abstract

Background: Hypertension is a common public health problem with potentially serious consequences. We aimed to explore the direct costs of hypertension treatment in Iran. Methods: Literature review and STEPS survey were used to estimate the incidence and prevalence of hypertension for Iranian males and females and the proportion of its treatment coverage in 2020. A standard national protocol for hypertension treatment was used to estimate the required medical services including visits, medica-tions, and lab tests. The cost of each service and the total cost of the disease were identified using the national reference costs. Results: About 23.39 million people suffer from moderate systolic blood pressure (BP of 120 to 139 mm/Hg) and a further 14.6 million people had severe BP (≥140 mm/Hg). Nearby 39.8% of these patients, receive BP treatment. The direct costs of hypertension treatment were 19,006.08 billion IR Rials (USD 87.54 million), of which 16.60% and 83.40% of the costs were related to new and prior cases, respectively. The costs of patient visits, medications, and lab tests were 56%, 35.51%, and 8.49% of the total costs, respectively. Conclusion: The prevalence and economic burden of hypertension are relatively high in Iran. Early detection and treatment of hypertension might have a significant effect on reducing its complications and costs. © 2023 Zamandi et al. Published by Tehran University of Medical Sciences.