OBJECTIVETo study the cost of the hypertensive outpatients.

METHODSThe study randomly selected 460 insured patients with hypertension and investigated their cost on each case in the out-patient department through 2002, based on the electronic system of medical insurance.

RESULTSAs a whole, the distribution of hypertensive outpatient expenditure takes on the positively skewed, with the median of 1 567.9 Yuan RMB. With the increase of age, the average expenses in each age group increased accordingly. In the study, the average number of outpatient attendances per patient was 19.5, the average expenses per visit was 115.4 Yuan RMB. In age groups 40 - 49 and 50 - 59, expenses of outpatient in male and female groups are obviously different in 2002 (Wilcoxon W(40 - 49) = 36, P(40 - 49) = 0.037; Wilcoxon W(50 - 59) = 374, P(50 - 59) = 0.023), as well as the number of out-patients (Wilcoxon W(40 - 49) = 52.5, P(40 - 49) = 0.007; Wilcoxon W(50 - 59) = 379, P(50 - 59) = 0.028). When considering the factors of gender and age at one time, the outpatient expenditures in the male group were significantly different between the different age groups (chi(2) = 22.3, P < 0.001), as well as the number of outpatients (chi(2) = 25.4, P < 0.001). In addition, the expenditure of drugs, which took a large proportion of the total expenditure of hypertensive outpatients (about 83.6 percent), was divided into three parts according to the degree of correlation with hypertension: direct expenses related to the with disease, the indirect expenses and the irrespective. The proportions of each part were 19.9 percent, 32.3 percent and 47.8 percent respectively.

CONCLUSIONWhen economic evaluation of community prevention is carried out, the cost and cost-benefit analysis based on the analysis of outpatient expenditure and the proportion of expenses on hypertension should be taken into account. Additionally, to provide appropriate mode of medicare, to impact the behaviors and expenditure of patients, and to provide low-cost but good effective drug are also essential and important factors.