TY - JOUR
T1 - Quality of care and attributable healthcare costs in diabetic hypertensive patients initiated on calcium antagonist therapy
AU - Barron, John J.
AU - Al-Zakwani, Ibrahim
AU - Iarocci, Thomas
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors wish to thank J. Matthew Groesbeck, BS, for his assistance in the preparation of this manuscript. This project was funded by Abbott Laboratories. The authors have no conflict of interest outside of this financial support to disclose.
PY - 2004
Y1 - 2004
N2 - Background and objective: Calcium antagonists (CAs) from two classes - dihydropyridine and non-dihydropyridine (DCAs and NDCAs, respectively) - are important add-on agents in goal blood pressure (BP) attainment. This study compared drug regimens to which DCAs or NDCAs had been added; for each class, BP reduction and healthcare costs were evaluated in a diabetic hypertensive population. Design, setting and patients: This was a retrospective observational study using administrative claims data within two US health plans. Patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and hypertension initiated on CA therapy between 1 January 2000 through 30 June 2002 were identified; the date the first CA prescription (CA-Rx) was filled in this period was labelled the index date. Inclusion required plan enrolment for 6 months pre- and 1 year post-index, no CA-Rx 6 months pre-index, and medication possession ratio >50% for 1 year post-index. Patients fell into either dihydropyridine or non-dihydropyridine study groups. Main outcome measures and results: For each group, costs (amounts allowed by plans, in US dollars; actual costs for 2000-2002) were calculated for resources attributable to DM/hypertension. A total of 5551 patients met eligibility criteria (NDCA = 1515; DCA = 4036). Most had been taking other antihypertensive I medications: 86% and 76% in the DCA and NDCA groups, respectively. The NDCA group had lower annual attributable costs than the DCA group ($US1637 [95% CI $US1479, $US1813] vs $US1989 [95% CI $US1823, $US2170]; p < 0.004). A total of 313 medical charts were reviewed (DCA = 242, NDCA = 71). Both groups had similar pre-and post-index BP values; mean changes in systolic and diastolic BP were not statistically significant between groups. Only 22% of all patients attained the recommended systolic/diastolic BP goal of <130/80mm Hg, and <45% of patients were tested for proteinuria during the study period. Conclusions: Patients initiated on an NDCA attained similar BP reductions compared with DCA at lower total healthcare costs. Opportunities exist for more aggressive management of BP and testing for proteinuria in DM patients with hypertension.
AB - Background and objective: Calcium antagonists (CAs) from two classes - dihydropyridine and non-dihydropyridine (DCAs and NDCAs, respectively) - are important add-on agents in goal blood pressure (BP) attainment. This study compared drug regimens to which DCAs or NDCAs had been added; for each class, BP reduction and healthcare costs were evaluated in a diabetic hypertensive population. Design, setting and patients: This was a retrospective observational study using administrative claims data within two US health plans. Patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and hypertension initiated on CA therapy between 1 January 2000 through 30 June 2002 were identified; the date the first CA prescription (CA-Rx) was filled in this period was labelled the index date. Inclusion required plan enrolment for 6 months pre- and 1 year post-index, no CA-Rx 6 months pre-index, and medication possession ratio >50% for 1 year post-index. Patients fell into either dihydropyridine or non-dihydropyridine study groups. Main outcome measures and results: For each group, costs (amounts allowed by plans, in US dollars; actual costs for 2000-2002) were calculated for resources attributable to DM/hypertension. A total of 5551 patients met eligibility criteria (NDCA = 1515; DCA = 4036). Most had been taking other antihypertensive I medications: 86% and 76% in the DCA and NDCA groups, respectively. The NDCA group had lower annual attributable costs than the DCA group ($US1637 [95% CI $US1479, $US1813] vs $US1989 [95% CI $US1823, $US2170]; p < 0.004). A total of 313 medical charts were reviewed (DCA = 242, NDCA = 71). Both groups had similar pre-and post-index BP values; mean changes in systolic and diastolic BP were not statistically significant between groups. Only 22% of all patients attained the recommended systolic/diastolic BP goal of <130/80mm Hg, and <45% of patients were tested for proteinuria during the study period. Conclusions: Patients initiated on an NDCA attained similar BP reductions compared with DCA at lower total healthcare costs. Opportunities exist for more aggressive management of BP and testing for proteinuria in DM patients with hypertension.
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U2 - 10.2165/00044011-200424110-00003
DO - 10.2165/00044011-200424110-00003
M3 - Article
C2 - 17523727
AN - SCOPUS:9644262339
SN - 1173-2563
VL - 24
SP - 641
EP - 649
JO - Clinical Drug Investigation
JF - Clinical Drug Investigation
IS - 11
ER -