ISSN:
1619-1560
Keywords:
Compliance
;
Health care expenditures
;
Health policy
;
Hypertension
;
Medicaid
;
Pharmaceutical formulation
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract A Major barrier to the management of hypertension is the extent to which patients comply with the treatment regimen. Herein we report the findings of a retrospective analysis designed to discern the relationship between antihypertensive formulation, regimen compliance and the utilization of health care services. Data for this analysis were derived from the state of South Carolina's Medicaid computer archive. The study population consisted of 1 000 randomly selected beneficiaries initially prescribed one of the following antihypertensive regimens as monotheraphy: atenolol (daily); captopril (twice daily); oral clonidine (twice daily); transdermal clonidine (once a week); diltiazem (twice daily); enalapril (twice daily); metoprolol (twice daily); prazosin (twice daily); terazosin (daily); and verapamil-SR (daily). Multivariate regression analysis was used to determine the incremental influence of selected demographic characteristics, utilization of medical services prior to diagnosis for hypertension, initial antihypertensive medication, medication possession ratio for antihypertensive therapy, and the number of maintenance medications for disease state processes other than hypertension on post-period health care expenditure. Results indicate that patients initially prescribed antihypertensive medication requiring daily or weekly administration experience infrequent changes in their therapeutic regimen, far less use of concomitant therapy for blood pressure control, an increased utilization of antihypertensive medication, and a decrease in the use and cost of physician, hospital and laboratory services.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01829454
Permalink
