Hypertension is an important public health problem from both clinical and economic perspectives. Methods used to diagnose hypertension and decisions on who to treat, what treatment to offer, and how vigorously to pursue adherence to long-term medical regimens all have significant implications for the cost-effectiveness, as well as the benefits, of treatment. Each of these issues is discussed and a cost-saving treatment strategy is proposed. The burden of hypertension treatment costs often falls on the patient and especially on lower income groups. These findings need to be carefully considered by clinicians and policymakers alike.
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