Publication:

Pharmacoeconomic comparison of losartan and amlodipine in patients of hypertension in a tertiary care teaching hospital

Background To conduct a pharmacoeconomic comparison (cost-effectiveness analysis) and to evaluate the overall safety and efficacy of Losartan and Amlodipine in reducing the Mean blood pressure per mm Hg in hypertensive patients.

Methods This was a prospective, randomized, open label, observational analysis of cost-effectiveness; into compare the cost of Losartan 50mg and Amlodipine 5mg in hypertensive patients using either of the two drugs. A total of 80 newly diagnosed drug naïve hypertensive patients were considered for the comparison, of which 40 patients were prescribed Losartan and the other 40 were prescribed Amlodipine as per the recommended dosage. Based on the data, statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS Software Version 21.

Results The two drugs were found to be equi-effective in reducing the blood pressure to the target goal, at their respective equivalent doses Moreover, the cost of reducing 1 mm of Hg mean blood pressure with Losartan was 103.42 INR, whereas that of Amlodipine was 57.11 INR. Hence the cost incurred in treating elevated BP was markedly lower with the Amlodipine group as compared to the Losartan group.

Conclusions This pharmacoeconomic analysis shows that Amlodipine is more cost-effective as compared to Losartan when the cost per mm Hg reduction in mean blood pressure is considered. Hence in India, where the cost of drug is a significant deterrant to patient compliance, cost-effective therapy of chronic disease like hypertension is of prime importance.