Objectives: The aim of this study was to estimate the cost-effectiveness of antihypertensive treatment in elderly people based on the results of the Swedish Trial in Old Patients with Hypertension (STOP Hypertension).
Design: The STOP Hypertension study was a randomized trial comparing active antihypertensive treatment with a placebo. The risk of stroke, cardiovascular disease and total mortality was significantly reduced in the actively treated group compared to placebo.
Setting: One hundred and sixteen primary health care centres in Sweden.
Subjects: A total of 1627 hypertensive patients aged 70-84. No patient was lost to follow-up.
Interventions: Antihypertensive treatment with beta blockers and diuretics for a mean follow-up of 25 months.
Main outcome measure: The cost-effectiveness ratio estimated as the net cost (the treatment cost minus saved costs of reduced cardiovascular morbidity) divided by the number of life-years gained (the increase in life expectancy from treatment).
Results: The cost per life-year gained was estimated as SEK 5000 for men and SEK 15,000 for women ($1 = SEK 6; 1 pound = SEK 10). The cost per life-year gained did not exceed SEK 100,000 in any of the sensitivity analyses.
Conclusions: It is concluded that treatment of elderly hypertensive patients with beta blockers and/or diuretics is cost-effective according to the results of the STOP Hypertension study.