Key result
Hypertension is linked to ~80% higher health care costs versus normotension over three years.
Why the study?
Health care costs associated with hypertension in an employed population were not well characterized over time including before, during, and after worksite screening.
Does hypertension increase health care costs in an employed population?
Cohort (n=3,147)
Does hypertension increase health care costs in an employed population?
Hypertension is associated with significantly higher health care costs (approximately 80% more) compared to normotension among employed individuals, driven by hospital, physician, nursing, and drug costs.
Hypertension was associated with higher employee claims; leaves open whether screening or control reduces costs.
Health care insurance claims were used to track costs associated with hypertension for an employed population. Employees were classified as hypertensive (n = 373), high normal (n = 363), or normotensive (n = 2,411) on the basis of hypertension screening done at the worksite. Claims activity was monitored for the three groups during a three-year period, including periods before, during, and after the screening done at the worksite. The average amount claimed per employee was significantly higher for the hypertensives as compared with the normotensives or high normals, even after adjustment for age, race, sex, salary, marital status, and duration of insurance coverage. There was no significant difference in the average amount claimed per employee between high normals and normotensives. The health care costs for hypertensives are estimated to be about 80% more than those for normotensives. Hospital, physicians, and nursing care accounts for about 50 percentage points of this increment while the remaining 30 percentage points derive from drug costs.
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Hebel et al. (1990) conducted a cohort in Hypertension (n=3,147). Hypertension vs. Normotension and high normal blood pressure was evaluated on Average amount claimed per employee (health care costs). Hypertension in an employed population was associated with approximately 80% higher health care costs compared to normotension over a three-year period.
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