Economics of Team-based Care in Controlling Blood Pressure: A Community Guide Systematic Review

• Published in: American journal of preventive medicine 2015-11, Vol.49 (5), p.772-783
• Main Authors: Jacob, Verughese, Chattopadhyay, Sajal K, Thota, Anilkrishna B, Proia, Krista K, Njie, Gibril, Hopkins, David P, Finnie, Ramona K C, Pronk, Nicolaas P, Kottke, Thomas E
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cost-Benefit Analysis - methods; Health Care Costs - statistics & numerical data; Humans; Hypertension - prevention & control; Patient-Centered Care - economics; Quality-Adjusted Life Years; United States
• ISSN: 0749-3797; 1873-2607
• DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2015.04.003

High blood pressure is an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease and stroke, the leading cause of death in the U.S., and a substantial national burden through lost productivity and medical care. A recent Community Guide systematic review found strong evidence of effectiveness of team-based care in improving blood pressure control. The objective of the present review is to determine from the economic literature whether team-based care for blood pressure control is cost beneficial or cost effective. Electronic databases of papers published January 1980-May 2012 were searched to find economic evaluations of team-based care interventions to improve blood pressure outcomes, yielding 31 studies for inclusion. In analyses conducted in 2012, intervention cost, healthcare cost averted, benefit-to-cost ratios, and cost effectiveness were abstracted from the studies. The quality of estimates for intervention and healthcare cost from each study were assessed using three elements: intervention focus on blood pressure control, incremental estimates in the intervention group relative to a control group, and inclusion of major cost-driving elements in estimates. Intervention cost per unit reduction in systolic blood pressure was converted to lifetime intervention cost per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) saved using algorithms from published trials. Team-based care to improve blood pressure control is cost effective based on evidence that 26 of 28 estimates of $/QALY gained from ten studies were below a conservative threshold of $50,000. This finding is salient to recent U.S. healthcare reforms and coordinated patient-centered care through formation of Accountable Care Organizations.