The Cost-Effectiveness of Hypertension Modification Interventions to Reduce Dementia Burden

Modifying risk factors for dementia, such as hypertension, can significantly reduce the disease burden. Evidence on the economic value of diagnosing and controlling hypertension in relation to dementia has not been sufficiently investigated. The objectives of this thesis were to: 1) systematically review economic studies on the impact of hypertension modification on the dementia burden; 2) develop a lifetime economic model evaluating the cost-effectiveness of improved hypertension detection and management on the burden of dementia in Canada. The systematic review found that hypertension interventions were generally cost-effective; however, only two full economic evaluations were identified. The economic model found that hypertension diagnosis and control strategies were likely to be cost-effective from the perspective of dementia outcomes. Scenarios that improved hypertension control were significantly more cost-effective compared to the status quo. Future studies should evaluate the cost-effectiveness of real-world interventions to inform value-for-money for dementia investments.