Economic Evaluation of a Pharmaceutical Care Program for Elderly Diabetic and Hypertensive Patients in Primary Health Care: A 36-Month Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

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Abstract
BACKGROUND: Most diabetic and hypertensive patients, principally the elderly, do not achieve adequate disease control and consume 5%-15% of annual health care budgets. Previous studies verified that pharmaceutical care is useful for achieving adequate disease control in diabetes and hypertension. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the economic cost and the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) of pharmaceutical care in the management of diabetes and hypertension in elderly patients in a primary public health care system in a developing country. METHODS: A 36-month randomized controlled clinical trial was performed with 200 patients who were divided into a control group (n=100) and an intervention group (n=100). The control group received the usual care offered by the Primary Health Care Unit (medical and nurse consultations). The intervention group received the usual care plus a pharmaceutical care intervention. The intervention and control groups were compared with regard ...

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