Keywords
high blood pressure
drug combinations
losartan
hydrochlorothiazide
How to Cite
Abstract
Introduction: Hypertension is a prevalent disease with a high impact on public health. Fixed-dose combinations (FDCs) of antihypertensive drugs improve adherence, but their higher cost raises questions about their efficiency. This study evaluated the cost-effectiveness of the losartan/hydrochlorothiazide FDC compared to its free combination (FC) in Colombia to guide clinical and public health decisions. Methods: A cost-effectiveness study was conducted from the perspective of the third-party payer over a one-year period. Decision trees were used to calculate costs and probabilities. Costs were measured in Colombian pesos (COP) in 2023, while effectiveness was measured as the probability of achieving therapeutic goals. Results: The annual cost with the generic FDC was COP 29,573 with an effectiveness of 0.587, while for the FC it was COP 16,075 COP with an effectiveness of 0.579. Therefore, COP 1,584,163 must be paid for each additional patient controlled with CDF compared to CL. From the threshold of COP 2,040,816 COP, the probability of CDF being cost-effective is higher than that obtained for CL. Conclusions: Generic CDFs proved to be cost-effective for achieving therapeutic goals for hypertension compared to CL. The decision to adopt this alternative rests with the decision-maker, who must evaluate, considering the Colombian context, the feasibility of assuming the costs of its adoption.
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