Table 4

Comparisons of Drug Acquisition Costs of 5-Year NNT Among Antihypertensive Drug Classes
Drug Class
 Commonly Prescribed
 5-year Cost Per Patient
 5-Year NNT
Total Cost
 Incremental Cost
 Cost Ratio







SHEP-based drug therapy
$456
 15
 $6,843
 $0 (base)
 1 (base)







Beta-Blocker
 Atenolol





     25 mg daily
 $1,255
 15
 $18,825
 $11,982
 2.75

     50 mg daily
 $1,245
 15
 $18,675
 $11,832
 2.73

     100 mg daily
 $1,792
 15
 $26,880
 $20,037
 3.93







ACE inhibitor
 Enalapril





     5 mg daily
 $2,031
 15
 $30,465
 $23,622
 4.45

     10 mg daily
 $2,132
 15
 $31,980
 $25,137
 4.67

     20 mg daily
 $3,034
 15
 $45,510
 $38,667
 6.65







Alpha-Blocker
 Terazosin





     2 mg daily
 $2,984
 15
 $44,760
 $37,917
 6.54

     5 mg daily
 $2,984
 15
 $44,760
 $37,917
 6.54

     10 mg daily
 $2,984
 15
 $44,760
 $37,917
 6.54







Calcium channel blocker
 Nifedipine





     30 mg daily
 $881
 15
 $13,215
 $6,372
 1.93

     60 mg daily
 $1,762
 15
 $26,430
 $19,587
 3.86

     90 mg daily
 $2,644
 15
 $39,660
 $32,817
 5.8

Chen et al. Cost Effectiveness and Resource Allocation 2005 3:2   doi:10.1186/1478-7547-3-2

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