['To compare the cost effectiveness of an amlodipine-based strategy and an atenolol-based strategy in the treatment of hypertension in the UK and Sweden.', 'A prospective, randomised trial complemented with a Markov model to assess long-term costs and health effects.', 'Primary care.', 'Patients with moderate hypertension and three or more additional risk factors.', 'Amlodipine 5-10 mg with perindopril 4-8 mg added as needed or atenolol 50-100 mg with bendroflumethiazide 1.25-2.5 mg and potassium added as needed', 'Cost per cardiovascular event and procedure avoided, and cost per quality-adjusted life-year gained.', 'In the UK, the cost to avoid one cardiovascular event or procedure would be euro18 965, and the cost to gain one quality-adjusted life-year would be euro21 875. The corresponding figures for Sweden were euro13 210 and euro16 856.'] Is economic evaluation of ASCOT-BPLA : antihypertensive treatment with an amlodipine-based regimen cost effective compared with an atenolol-based regimen?