On estimation of P(Y < X) for inverse Pareto distribution based on progressively first failure censored data.

The stress-strength reliability (SSR) model ϕ = P(Y < X) is used in numerous disciplines like reliability engineering, quality control, medical studies, and many more to assess the strength and stresses of the systems. Here, we assume X and Y both are independent random variables of progressively first failure censored (PFFC) data following inverse Pareto distribution (IPD) as stress and strength, respectively. This article deals with the estimation of SSR from both classical and Bayesian paradigms. In the case of a classical point of view, the SSR is computed using two estimation methods: maximum product spacing (MPS) and maximum likelihood (ML) estimators. Also, derived interval estimates of SSR based on ML estimate. The Bayes estimate of SSR is computed using the Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) approximation procedure with a squared error loss function (SELF) based on gamma informative priors for the Bayesian paradigm. To demonstrate the relevance of the different estimates and the censoring schemes, an extensive simulation study and two pairs of real-data applications are discussed.

Serum Vitamin D Levels and Dry Eye Disease in Postmenopausal Women: A Case-Control Study at a Tertiary Care Center in Rural Haryana.

Background: Despite the high prevalence of Vitamin-D insufficiency and high susceptibility to dry eye disease (DED) in postmenopausal women (PMW), correlation between DED and Vitamin D has not been explored in PMW in any Indian study. Aims and Objectives: To explore the correlation between serum Vitamin D levels in PMW with and without DED, in a hospital-based population in rural Haryana. Materials and Methods: Subjective (ocular surface disease index [OSDI] questionnaire) and objective clinical tests were undertaken for DED diagnosis. 25(OH) Vitamin D was measured in serum using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; insufficient (10-30 ng/ml) and deficient (<10 ng/ml). Descriptive statistics were analyzed by mean ± standard deviation for continuous and frequencies for the categorical variables; Student's t-test used to find out mean difference in Vitamin D levels; P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: One hundred and forty PMW (60.1 ± 5.32 years) were included; Group-A (Controls; no DED; n: 70); Group-B (Cases; DED diagnosed by OSDI scores; n: 70); Subgroup-B1 (clinical tests negative; n: 30) and B2 (clinical tests positive; n: 40). There was no statistically significant difference in OSDI scores between B1 and B2. Significantly lower mean Vitamin D levels were found in cases (14.36 ± 4.08 ng/ml) as compared to controls (19.19 ± 6.4 ng/ml) (P = 0.001) and in B2 (13.15 ± 3.51 ng/ml) as compared to B1 (15.57 ± 4.66 ng/ml) (P = 0.01). Conclusion: There were significantly low levels of Vitamin-D in clinically established DED. Evaluating Vitamin D levels as a part of the dry eye workup in PMW is recommended. OSDI scores were not aligned with the clinical test scores; questionnaire-based tests alone may not be sufficient for diagnosing DED.

The HEARTS partner forum-supporting implementation of HEARTS to treat and control hypertension.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD), principally ischemic heart disease (IHD) and stroke, are the leading causes of death (18. 6 million deaths annually) and disability (393 million disability-adjusted life-years lost annually), worldwide. High blood pressure is the most important preventable risk factor for CVD and deaths, worldwide (10.8 million deaths annually). In 2016, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United States Centers for Disease Control (CDC) launched the Global Hearts initiative to support governments in their quest to prevent and control CVD. HEARTS is the core technical package of the initiative and takes a public health approach to treating hypertension and other CVD risk factors at the primary health care level. The HEARTS Partner Forum, led by WHO, brings together the following 11 partner organizations: American Heart Association (AHA), Center for Chronic Disease Control (CCDC), International Society of Hypertension (ISH), International Society of Nephrology (ISN), Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Resolve to Save Lives (RTSL), US CDC, World Hypertension League (WHL), World Heart Federation (WHF) and World Stroke Organization (WSO). The partners support countries in their implementation of the HEARTS technical package in various ways, including providing technical expertise, catalytic funding, capacity building and evidence generation and dissemination. HEARTS has demonstrated the feasibility and acceptability of a public health approach, with more than seven million people already on treatment for hypertension using a simple, algorithmic HEARTS approach. Additionally, HEARTS has demonstrated the feasibility of using hypertension as a pathfinder to universal health coverage and should be a key intervention of all basic benefit packages. The partner forum continues to find ways to expand support and reinvigorate enthusiasm and attention on preventing CVD. Proposed future HEARTS Partner Forum activities are related to more concrete information sharing between partners and among countries, expanded areas of partner synergy, support for implementation, capacity building, and advocacy with country ministries of health, professional societies, academy and civil societies organizations. Advancing toward the shared goals of the HEARTS partners will require a more formal, structured approach to the forum and include goals, targets and published reports. In this way, the HEARTS Partner Forum will mirror successful global partnerships on communicable diseases and assist countries in reducing CVD mortality and achieving global sustainable development goals (SDGs).

Comparative safety of conjugated estrogens/bazedoxifene versus estrogen/progestin combination hormone therapy among women in the United States: a multidatabase cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the risk of select safety outcomes including endometrial cancer, endometrial hyperplasia, and breast cancer among women using conjugated estrogens/bazedoxifene (CE/BZA) as compared with estrogen/progestin combination hormone therapy (EP). METHODS: We conducted a new-user cohort study in five US healthcare claims databases representing more than 92 million women. We included CE/BZA or EP new users from May 1, 2014, to August 30, 2019. EP users were propensity score (PS) matched to users of CE/BZA. Incidence of endometrial cancer, endometrial hyperplasia, breast cancer, and eight additional cancer and cardiovascular outcomes were ascertained using claims-based algorithms. Rate ratios (RR) and differences pooled across databases were estimated using random-effects models. RESULTS: The study population included 10,596 CE/BZA and 33,818 PS-matched EP new users. Rates of endometrial cancer and endometrial hyperplasia were slightly higher among CE/BZA users (1.6 and 0.4 additional cases per 10,000 person-years), although precision was limited because of small numbers of cases (endometrial cancer: RR, 1.50 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 0.79-2.88]; endometrial hyperplasia: RR, 1.69 [95% CI, 0.51-5.61]). Breast cancer incidence was lower in CE/BZA users (9.1 fewer cases per 10,000 person-years; RR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.58-1.05). Rates of other outcomes were slightly higher among CE/BZA users, but with confidence intervals compatible with a wider range of possible associations. CONCLUSIONS: CE/BZA users might experience slightly higher rates of endometrial cancer and endometrial hyperplasia, and a lower rate of breast cancer, than EP users in the first years of use.

Inference of multicomponent stress-strength reliability following Topp-Leone distribution using progressively censored data.

In this paper, the inference of multicomponent stress-strength reliability has been derived using progressively censored samples from Topp-Leone distribution. Both stress and strength variables are assumed to follow Topp-Leone distributions with different shape parameters. The maximum likelihood estimate along with the asymptotic confidence interval are developed. Boot-p and Boot-t confidence intervals are also constructed. The Bayes estimates under generalized entropy loss function based on gamma priors using Lindley's, Tierney-Kadane's approximation and Markov chain Monte Carlo methods are derived. A simulation study is considered to check the performance of various estimation methods and different censoring schemes. A real data study shows the applicability of the proposed estimation methods.

Learning Preference of Medical Undergraduate Students: A Multi-Institutional Survey.

This cross-sectional multi-institutional study was conducted to analyze learning preference among medical undergraduate students (n=1659) in four colleges in Haryana. VARK questionnaire (v8.01) was administered through designated study leaders of the respective institutes. The most preferred learning modality was kinesthetic (21.7%), which favors experiential form of learning, most suited for teaching-learning of skills in medical curriculum. More information on the learning preference of medical students is needed to optimize learning outcomes.

African Control of Hypertension through Innovative Epidemiology and a Vibrant Ecosystem (ACHIEVE): novel strategies for accelerating hypertension control in Africa.

Hypertension is a leading preventable and controllable risk factor for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases and the leading preventable risk for death globally. With a prevalence of nearly 50% and 93% of cases uncontrolled, very little progress has been made in detecting, treating, and controlling hypertension in Africa over the past thirty years. We propose the African Control of Hypertension through Innovative Epidemiology and a Vibrant Ecosystem (ACHIEVE) to implement the HEARTS package for improved surveillance, prevention, treatment/acute care of hypertension, and rehabilitation of those with hypertension complications across the life course. The ecosystem will apply the principles of an iterative implementation cycle by developing and deploying pragmatic solutions through the contextualization of interventions tailored to navigate barriers and enhance facilitators to deliver maximum impact through effective communication and active participation of all stakeholders in the implementation environment. Ten key strategic actions are proposed for implementation to reduce the burden of hypertension in Africa.

It is strongly recommended to not conduct, fund, or publish research studies that use spot urine samples with estimating equations to assess individuals' sodium (salt) intake in association with health outcomes: a policy statement of the World Hypertension League, International Society of Hypertension and Resolve to Save Lives.

Spot urine samples with estimating equations have been used to assess individuals' sodium (salt) intake in association with health outcomes. There is large random and systematic error in estimating sodium intake using this method and spurious health outcome associations. Substantial controversy has resulted from false claims the method is valid. Hence, the World Hypertension League, International Society of Hypertension and Resolve to Save Lives, supported by 21 other health organizations, have issued this policy statement that strongly recommends that research using spot urine samples with estimating equations to assess individuals' sodium (salt) intake in association with health outcomes should not be conducted, funded or published. Literature reviews on the health impacts of reducing dietary sodium that include studies that have used spot and short duration timed urine samples with estimating equations need to explicitly acknowledge that the method is not recommended to be used and is associated with spurious health outcome associations.

Thyroid Autoimmunity in Vitiligo: A Case-Control Study.

Introduction There is scanty evidence regarding the role of autoimmunity in vitiligo, especially in the Asian population. Moreover, the existing studies reported conflicting results. This prompted the investigators to identify the association of thyroid autoimmunity with vitiligo by employing a case-control design in this setting. Methodology The present study was a hospital-based case-control study conducted in one of the tertiary care hospitals of North India. We recruited 30 subjects aged 16-60 years with vitiligo attending the skin and venereal diseases outpatient department. The subjects attending the general medicine outpatient department without having a diagnosis of vitiligo were considered for the control group. Thyroid hormones (FT3 and FT4), thyroid-stimulating hormones, anti-thyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO) antibodies, and anti-thyroglobulin (anti-TG) antibodies were the primary investigations performed among the study subjects. Results The mean age of the study subjects was 31.3 (SD: 13.3) years. Both the case and control groups were comparable based on selected socio-demographic variables (p > 0.05). There was a statistically significant difference in terms of mean anti-TPO and anti-TG values between the case and control groups in which subjects with vitiligo reported significantly higher values (p < 0.05). Conclusion Our study reported a significant elevation in the mean values of the thyroid antibodies (anti-TG and anti-TPO antibodies) in vitiligo subjects compared to control subjects in this setting. Hence, screening for autoimmune thyroid diseases among patients with vitiligo is suggested for the early detection and the initiation of appropriate intervention.

Autoimmune Thyroid Disease in Psoriasis Patients: A Case-Control Study.

INTRODUCTION: Psoriasis is a common immunologically mediated inflammatory disease characterized by skin inflammation, epidermal hyperplasia, an increased risk of painful and destructive arthritis, cardiovascular morbidity, and psychosocial challenges. Some autoimmune diseases are mediated by stimulating or blocking auto-antibodies. Auto-antibodies may act as antagonists and bind to hormone receptors, blocking receptor function. It may result in impaired secretion of mediators and gradual dysfunction of the affected organ, e.g., Graves disease and myasthenia gravis. OBJECTIVE: This study was planned to evaluate the association between anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody (anti-TPO Ab) and anti-thyroglobulin antibody (anti-TG Ab) as biochemical markers in 30 clinically diagnosed psoriasis patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This hospital-based, epidemiological case-control study was conducted in the Department of Biochemistry in collaboration with the Department of Dermatology, Venereology, and Leprology at Bhagat Phool Singh Government Medical College for Women, Khanpur Kalan, Sonepat, Haryana, India. Thirty subjects diagnosed clinically with psoriasis and an equal number of age-matched controls with no known autoimmune disease from the outpatient department were also enrolled. The following hormonal tests, i.e., thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxine (FT4), and antibodies, anti-TPO Ab and anti-TG Ab, were performed. The study period was one year. The data thus obtained was analyzed using SPSS Statistics version 26.0 (IBM Corp. Released 2019. IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 26.0. Armonk, NY: IBM Corp). The significance level (p-value) was taken as <0.05. RESULTS: The mean age of psoriasis subjects was 37.83±12.89 years compared to 36.91±12.32 years in the control group and was found to be non-significant (p=0.432), reflecting a similar age distribution. A male preponderance was observed in the present study, where the psoriasis group consisted of 80% males and 20% females, while the control group had 60% males and 40% females. All six psoriasis patients diagnosed with autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) were euthyroid at the time of enrollment, compared to only one control subject in a subclinical hypothyroid state. The mean values of anti-TPO Ab were 30.93±41.26 IU/mL in psoriasis patients and 11.39±28.42 IU/mL in the control group (p=0.001), while the mean values of anti-TG Ab were 11.21±27.69 IU/mL in psoriatic subjects and 2.49±9.05 IU/mL in the control group (p=0.004). No significant correlation between AITD and psoriasis was found when both parameters were analyzed statistically for correlation; even when one marker was considered, no significant correlation was found. The odds ratio was calculated to find an association between the disease and thyroid autoimmunity. The odds ratio was estimated to be 2.25 for psoriasis and the control group, with a confidence interval of 95% (0.77-6.59) and a p-value of 0.139, which was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Psoriasis, a dermatological disorder, has been seen as related to AITD. The role of early detection of anti-thyroid antibodies, i.e., anti-TPO Ab and anti-TG Ab, can be of prognostic value in AITD and psoriasis.

Building the health-economic case for scaling up the WHO-HEARTS hypertension control package in low- and middle-income countries.

Generally, hypertension control programs are cost-effective, including in low- and middle-income countries, but country governments and civil society are not likely to support hypertension control programs unless value is demonstrated in terms of public health benefits, budget impact, and value-for-investment for the individual country context. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) established a standard, simplified Global HEARTS approach to hypertension control, including preferred antihypertensive medicines and blood pressure measurement devices. The objective of this study is to report on health economic studies of HEARTS hypertension control package cost (especially medication costs), cost-effectiveness, and budget impact and describe mathematical models designed to translate hypertension control program data into the optimal approach to hypertension care service delivery and financing, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Early results suggest that HEARTS hypertension control interventions are either cost-saving or cost-effective, that the HEARTS package is affordable at between US$ 18-44 per person treated per year, and that antihypertensive medicines could be priced low enough to reach a global standard of an average

En general, los programas de control de la hipertensión son costo-eficaces, incluso en los países de ingresos bajos y medios. Aun así, es poco probable que los gobiernos nacionales y la sociedad civil apoyen los programas de control de la hipertensión a menos que se demuestre su valor en términos de beneficios para la salud pública, impacto presupuestario y valor de la inversión para el contexto individual del país. La Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) y la Organización Panamericana de la Salud (OPS) implementaron la iniciativa HEARTS, un enfoque mundial estandarizado y simplificado para el control de la hipertensión, que incluye los medicamentos antihipertensivos y los dispositivos de medición de la presión arterial de preferencia. El objetivo de este estudio es informar sobre los estudios en el ámbito de la economía de la salud relativos al costo de las medidas de control de la hipertensión previstas en HEARTS (especialmente, de los medicamentos), la costo-efectividad y el impacto presupuestario, así como describir los modelos matemáticos diseñados para traducir los datos de este programa en un enfoque óptimo para la prestación y el financiamiento de los servicios de atención de la hipertensión, especialmente en países de ingresos medianos y bajos. Los primeros resultados indican que las intervenciones de HEARTS para el control de la hipertensión son de bajo costo o costo-eficaces, que el conjunto de medidas HEARTS es asequible, a un precio que oscila entre US$ 18 y US$ 44 al año por paciente tratado, y que los medicamentos antihipertensivos podrían tener un precio lo suficientemente bajo como para alcanzar un estándar medio mundial de

Geralmente, os programas de controle de hipertensão são custo-efetivos, inclusive em países de baixa e média renda, mas os governos dos países e a sociedade civil provavelmente não apoiarão tais programas a menos que demonstrem valor em termos de benefícios à saúde pública, impacto orçamentário e retorno sobre o investimento no contexto individual do país. A Organização Mundial da Saúde (OMS) e a Organização Pan-Americana da Saúde (OPAS) criaram a Global HEARTS, uma abordagem padrão e simplificada ao controle da hipertensão arterial, que inclui medicamentos anti-hipertensivos preferidos e dispositivos para aferição da pressão arterial preferidos. O objetivo deste estudo é relatar os estudos de economia em saúde que analisaram o custo (especialmente custos de medicamentos), custo-benefício e impacto orçamentário do pacote HEARTS para controle da hipertensão e descrever modelos matemáticos elaborados para traduzir os dados do programa de controle de hipertensão em uma abordagem ideal para a prestação e financiamento de serviços de atenção às pessoas com hipertensão, especialmente em países de baixa e média renda. Os primeiros resultados sugerem que as intervenções HEARTS para controle da hipertensão são de baixo custo ou custo-efetivas, que o pacote HEARTS é acessível (custando de US$ 18 a 44 por pessoa tratada por ano) e que o preço dos medicamentos anti-hipertensivos poderia ser baixo o suficiente para atingir uma média global de

An Evaluation of the Effect of the OxyContin Reformulation on Unintentional Fatal and Nonfatal Overdose.

OBJECTIVES: OxyContin was reformulated with a polyethylene oxide matrix in August 2010 to reduce the potential for intravenous abuse and for abuse by insufflation. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of OxyContin's reformulation on overdose (OD) risk for individuals dispensed OxyContin in comparison to those dispensed other opioids under regular care. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three national insurance databases with National Death Index linkage identified OD in individuals with any dispensing of OxyContin or a primary comparator opioid (extended release morphine, transdermal fentanyl, or methadone) between July 2008 through September 2015. A difference-in-differences design was used to compare the pre-post reformulation changes in OD rates for OxyContin versus comparators. RESULTS: A total of 297,836 individuals were dispensed OxyContin and 659,673 individuals were dispensed a primary comparator across the 3 databases. Overall, there was little or no difference in the temporal change in OD incidence in comparators versus OxyContin (Medicaid: adjusted ratio-of-rate-ratios (aRoRs) ranging from 0.90 to 1.05; MarketScan/HIRD: aRoR ranging from 1.10 to 1.22). However, restriction to person-time without concomitant opioid use revealed a modestly greater reduction in OD incidence over time during OxyContin use, as the aRoRs comparing the primary comparators to OxyContin ranged from 1.06 to 1.30 in Medicaid and from 1.64 to 1.85 in MarketScan/HIRD. DISCUSSION: This study did not detect an overall effect of the OxyContin reformulation on OD in insured patients under regular medical care. There is a suggestion of a modestly reduced OxyContin-associated OD risk following the reformulation but only in commercially insured individuals receiving single-opioid regimens.

Near-peer-assisted learning for training undergraduate medical students in clinical ophthalmology skills.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to formally evaluate near-peer-assisted learning (NPAL) for teaching clinical ophthalmology skills to second-year undergraduate medical students through their fellow medical interns. METHODS: Interns posted at the department of ophthalmology were included as tutors after an initial sensitization and assessment. Second-year undergraduate students were included as tutees. Sessions were conducted for pre-identified clinical skills in batches of 3-5 tutees each. Perceptions of tutors and tutees were captured on a 5-point Likert scale (Kirkpatrick level-1) and evaluated. Tutors were assessed by directly observed procedural skills (DOPS) and tutees by pre- and post-session scores and performance of the respective clinical skills (Kirkpatrick level-2). RESULTS: A total of 21 of 24 tutors and 82 of 100 tutees responded to the evaluation questionnaire. Tutors perceived themselves as knowledgeable and useful as instructors; scores of second DOPS session significantly improved compared to the first (p = 0.001) for all clinical skills. Tutees found the NPAL sessions effective for learning clinical skills. Pre- and post-test scores significantly improved (p = 0.001), and all clinical skills were satisfactorily performed in the end-of-term exam. CONCLUSION: NPAL was perceived as an effective teaching-learning method by both tutees and tutors, and all clinical skills were performed successfully. NPAL can serve as a useful adjunct to traditional teaching for clinical training of small groups and can help alleviate teaching pressures on already burdened clinical faculty in Indian Medical colleges.

Building the health-economic case for scaling up the WHO-HEARTS hypertension control package in low- and middle-income countries / Argumentos de la economía de la salud para ampliar las medidas de control de la hipertensión de la iniciativa HEARTS de la OMS en los países de ingresos medianos y bajos / Ampliação do pacote de controle da hipertensão OMS-HEARTS em países de baixa e média renda: argumentos a partir da perspectiva da economia em saúde

ABSTRACT Generally, hypertension control programs are cost-effective, including in low- and middle-income countries, but country governments and civil society are not likely to support hypertension control programs unless value is demonstrated in terms of public health benefits, budget impact, and value-for-investment for the individual country context. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) established a standard, simplified Global HEARTS approach to hypertension control, including preferred antihypertensive medicines and blood pressure measurement devices. The objective of this study is to report on health economic studies of HEARTS hypertension control package cost (especially medication costs), cost-effectiveness, and budget impact and describe mathematical models designed to translate hypertension control program data into the optimal approach to hypertension care service delivery and financing, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Early results suggest that HEARTS hypertension control interventions are either cost-saving or cost-effective, that the HEARTS package is affordable at between US$ 18-44 per person treated per year, and that antihypertensive medicines could be priced low enough to reach a global standard of an average <US$ 5 per patient per year in the public sector. This health economic evidence will make a compelling case for government ownership and financial support for national scale hypertension control programs.

RESUMEN En general, los programas de control de la hipertensión son costo-eficaces, incluso en los países de ingresos bajos y medios. Aun así, es poco probable que los gobiernos nacionales y la sociedad civil apoyen los programas de control de la hipertensión a menos que se demuestre su valor en términos de beneficios para la salud pública, impacto presupuestario y valor de la inversión para el contexto individual del país. La Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) y la Organización Panamericana de la Salud (OPS) implementaron la iniciativa HEARTS, un enfoque mundial estandarizado y simplificado para el control de la hipertensión, que incluye los medicamentos antihipertensivos y los dispositivos de medición de la presión arterial de preferencia. El objetivo de este estudio es informar sobre los estudios en el ámbito de la economía de la salud relativos al costo de las medidas de control de la hipertensión previstas en HEARTS (especialmente, de los medicamentos), la costo-efectividad y el impacto presupuestario, así como describir los modelos matemáticos diseñados para traducir los datos de este programa en un enfoque óptimo para la prestación y el financiamiento de los servicios de atención de la hipertensión, especialmente en países de ingresos medianos y bajos. Los primeros resultados indican que las intervenciones de HEARTS para el control de la hipertensión son de bajo costo o costo-eficaces, que el conjunto de medidas HEARTS es asequible, a un precio que oscila entre US$ 18 y US$ 44 al año por paciente tratado, y que los medicamentos antihipertensivos podrían tener un precio lo suficientemente bajo como para alcanzar un estándar medio mundial de <US$ 5 por paciente al año en el sector público. Estos datos del ámbito de la economía de la salud serán argumentos convincentes para que los gobiernos se involucren en los programas de control de la hipertensión a escala nacional y les brinden apoyo financiero.

RESUMO Geralmente, os programas de controle de hipertensão são custo-efetivos, inclusive em países de baixa e média renda, mas os governos dos países e a sociedade civil provavelmente não apoiarão tais programas a menos que demonstrem valor em termos de benefícios à saúde pública, impacto orçamentário e retorno sobre o investimento no contexto individual do país. A Organização Mundial da Saúde (OMS) e a Organização Pan-Americana da Saúde (OPAS) criaram a Global HEARTS, uma abordagem padrão e simplificada ao controle da hipertensão arterial, que inclui medicamentos anti-hipertensivos preferidos e dispositivos para aferição da pressão arterial preferidos. O objetivo deste estudo é relatar os estudos de economia em saúde que analisaram o custo (especialmente custos de medicamentos), custo-benefício e impacto orçamentário do pacote HEARTS para controle da hipertensão e descrever modelos matemáticos elaborados para traduzir os dados do programa de controle de hipertensão em uma abordagem ideal para a prestação e financiamento de serviços de atenção às pessoas com hipertensão, especialmente em países de baixa e média renda. Os primeiros resultados sugerem que as intervenções HEARTS para controle da hipertensão são de baixo custo ou custo-efetivas, que o pacote HEARTS é acessível (custando de US$ 18 a 44 por pessoa tratada por ano) e que o preço dos medicamentos anti-hipertensivos poderia ser baixo o suficiente para atingir uma média global de <US$ 18 por paciente por ano no setor público. Estas evidências do campo da economia em saúde serão um argumento convincente para que os governos se responsabilizem por programas de controle de hipertensão em escala nacional e os dotem de recursos financeiros.