How would you estimate: How many people have hypertension (high blood pressure) in the US?

Case Interview Market sizing
New answer on Dec 18, 2020
3 Answers
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Anonymous A asked on Dec 16, 2020

Hi

I came across the question: How many people have hypertension (high blood pressure) in the US, during a profitability case. This info is needed to calculate the market size for a medication. I am not quite sure how to solve a question like this in a good way. Would appreciate any approaches.

Best regards

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Gaurav
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updated an answer on Dec 18, 2020
Ex-Mckinsey|Certified Career Coach |Placed 500+ candidates at MBB & other consultancies

Hi there,

I think what's expected from you in this case is to connect high blood pressure to health issues (especially obesity). This is the quote from http://www.bloodpressureuk.org/ (I know, the question is about the US, but you get the point):

"Your diet, exercise levels and weight have a real effect on your blood pressure."

My suggestion is to start by finding out the obesity rate in US.

Hope it was helpful.

GB

(edited)

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Ian
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replied on Dec 18, 2020
#1 BCG coach | MBB | Tier 2 | Digital, Tech, Platinion | 100% personal success rate (8/8) | 95% candidate success rate
  1. Population of US
  2. Split into age bands of 20 years
  3. Estimate % overweight in each band (based on average % overweight in US...around 40-50%)
  4. % of those in overweight and not-overweight band with hypertension (low single digits for not-overweight, very high % for those overweight)
  5. Multiply out and viola
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Clara
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replied on Dec 17, 2020
McKinsey | Awarded professor at Master in Management @ IE | MBA at MIT |+180 students coached | Integrated FIT Guide aut

Hello!

I would encourage you to give it shot and ask for feedback, that is the best way to learn it ;)

In any case, it´s a classical market sizing, that I would approach the following way:

  1. Get total country population
  2. Divide into age groups, since the issue won´t be equally represented among the different groups (e.g., old people will have it much more than young)
  3. Appply % of sick people - you should ask for this info or some indications-.

Furthermore, if it´s a market sizing exercise in a profitability case, probably you will also need to discriminate, out of the total "sick" population, how many would buy it from you -market penetration-.

Hope it helps!

Best,

Clara

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Gaurav gave the best answer

Gaurav

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Ex-Mckinsey|Certified Career Coach |Placed 500+ candidates at MBB & other consultancies
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