The results of this study indicate that switching patients from amlodipine to either generic felodipine ER or nifedipine CC resulted in the expected reduction in acquisition costs for DHPs, but a significant increase in the overall cost of therapy for patients with hypertension or hypertension and angina. This rise in the overall cost of therapy [...]

Records Evaluated
A total of 372 randomly selected patient records were reviewed. Fifty-four of the patients whose records were selected were no longer receiving antihypertensive therapy, and they were excluded from the analysis. Four additional patients died during the follow-up period, and their records were also excluded. Thus, records from 314 patients form the basis for [...]

This study was a retrospective utilization and cost analysis based on the records of patients using pharmacy services at Martin Army Community Hospital in Fort Benning, Georgia, who had been prescribed amlodipine drug in the past and were switched to either felodipine ER or nifedipine CC beginning in January of 1999.

Effective management of patients with hypertension is a health care priority because of the increased risk for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality associated with this disease and the significant economic burden that results if it is left untreated. The American Heart Association (AHA) has estimated the annual total cost of cardiovascular disease and stroke to be [...]