Objective: To measure and calculate the medical cost attributable to hypertension among Chinese middle and old aged residents in 12 provinces( city or region)in 2011.
Methods: The data were collected in 2011 from China Health and Nutrition Survey. The sample was 45 years old and over of health male and female residents. To estimate the probability of medical usage and medical expenditure, and calculate the medical cost attributable to hypertension.
Results: The results showed that, in 2011, the estimate predict that the per capita medical expenditure for a single medical event was246. 8 yuan, the medical cost attributable to hypertension was 21. 2 yuan, which amounted to 8. 6% of the total personal medical cost. Hypertension showed a positive effect on the probability of medical usage to a large extent. Female respondents had lower medical cost. New Rural Cooperative Medical Scheme was linked with higher medical expenditure and the medical cost was higher in the north.
Conclusion: To some extent, the probability of medical usage and medical expenditure are affected by hypertension. The whole society, families and individuals may also have certain economic burden due to hypertension.
Keywords: hypertension; medical cost; middle and old aged residents; the two-part model.