Cost Effectiveness Analysis Therapy Combination of Candesartan-Amlodipine and Candesartan-Diltiazem on Hypertensive Outpatients

Abstract

Hypertension medication is taken for a long period and thus requires considerable costs. As antihypertensives vary in efficacy, research is needed to assess the cost effectiveness of medication, particularly between candesartan-amlodipine and candesartan-diltiazem combinations on hypertensive outpatients. This study applied a prospective cohort design with outcome observations for three months at a private hospital in Yogyakarta. The outcome used to gauge the cost effectiveness of medication was the achievement of the targeted blood pressure reduction after treatment. The cost effectiveness analysis was conducted through payer’s perspective, namely that of the social security agency (BPJS), with direct medical cost as the cost component measured. Cost effectiveness was analyzed using an average cost effectiveness ratio (ACER), calculated according to the ratio of cost to the outcome percentage of the blood pressure reduction target attainment, and an incremental cost effectiveness ratio (ICER) based on the ratio between differences in cost and outcome in both medication groups. The research subjects consisted of 33 patients, 24 of whom underwent medication with candesartan-amlodipine combination and 9 with candesartan-diltiazem. As many as 81.82% were female and 72.73% were within the age range of 51-70, while their most frequent complication was diabetes mellitus (48.48%). Results revealed the effectiveness of candesartan-amlodipine medication to be 58.33% with an ACER value of IDR 6,617, whereas that of candesartan-diltiazem was 22.22% with an ACER of IDR 29,733. The ICER value was IDR -7607, indicating that candesartan-amlodipine was categorically more cost-effective than candesartan-diltiazem.