Marissa Collins1, Helen Mason2, Martin O'Flaherty3, Maria Guzman-Castillo3, Julia Critchley4, Simon Capewell3. 1. Yunus Centre of Social Business and Health, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, UK. Electronic address: marissa.collins@gcu.ac.uk. 2. Yunus Centre of Social Business and Health, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, UK. 3. Department of Public Health and Policy, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK. 4. Division of Population Health Sciences and Education (PHSE) St George's, University of London, London, UK.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Dietary salt intake has been causally linked to high blood pressure and increased risk of cardiovascular events. Cardiovascular disease causes approximately 35% of total UK deaths, at an estimated annual cost of £30 billion. The World Health Organization and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence have recommended a reduction in the intake of salt in people's diets. This study evaluated the cost-effectiveness of four population health policies to reduce dietary salt intake on an English population to prevent coronary heart disease (CHD). METHODS: The validated IMPACT CHD model was used to quantify and compare four policies: 1) Change4Life health promotion campaign, 2) front-of-pack traffic light labeling to display salt content, 3) Food Standards Agency working with the food industry to reduce salt (voluntary), and 4) mandatory reformulation to reduce salt in processed foods. The effectiveness of these policies in reducing salt intake, and hence blood pressure, was determined by systematic literature review. The model calculated the reduction in mortality associated with each policy, quantified as life-years gained over 10 years. Policy costs were calculated using evidence from published sources. Health care costs for specific CHD patient groups were estimated. Costs were compared against a "do nothing" baseline. RESULTS: All policies resulted in a life-year gain over the baseline. Change4life and labeling each gained approximately 1960 life-years, voluntary reformulation 14,560 life-years, and mandatory reformulation 19,320 life-years. Each policy appeared cost saving, with mandatory reformulation offering the largest cost saving, more than £660 million. CONCLUSIONS: All policies to reduce dietary salt intake could gain life-years and reduce health care expenditure on coronary heart disease.
OBJECTIVES: Dietary salt intake has been causally linked to high blood pressure and increased risk of cardiovascular events. Cardiovascular disease causes approximately 35% of total UK deaths, at an estimated annual cost of £30 billion. The World Health Organization and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence have recommended a reduction in the intake of salt in people's diets. This study evaluated the cost-effectiveness of four population health policies to reduce dietary salt intake on an English population to prevent coronary heart disease (CHD). METHODS: The validated IMPACT CHD model was used to quantify and compare four policies: 1) Change4Life health promotion campaign, 2) front-of-pack traffic light labeling to display salt content, 3) Food Standards Agency working with the food industry to reduce salt (voluntary), and 4) mandatory reformulation to reduce salt in processed foods. The effectiveness of these policies in reducing salt intake, and hence blood pressure, was determined by systematic literature review. The model calculated the reduction in mortality associated with each policy, quantified as life-years gained over 10 years. Policy costs were calculated using evidence from published sources. Health care costs for specific CHD patient groups were estimated. Costs were compared against a "do nothing" baseline. RESULTS: All policies resulted in a life-year gain over the baseline. Change4life and labeling each gained approximately 1960 life-years, voluntary reformulation 14,560 life-years, and mandatory reformulation 19,320 life-years. Each policy appeared cost saving, with mandatory reformulation offering the largest cost saving, more than £660 million. CONCLUSIONS: All policies to reduce dietary salt intake could gain life-years and reduce health care expenditure on coronary heart disease.
Authors: Massimo F Piepoli; Arno W Hoes; Stefan Agewall; Christian Albus; Carlos Brotons; Alberico L Catapano; Marie-Therese Cooney; Ugo Corrà; Bernard Cosyns; Christi Deaton; Ian Graham; Michael Stephen Hall; F D Richard Hobbs; Maja-Lisa Løchen; Herbert Löllgen; Pedro Marques-Vidal; Joep Perk; Eva Prescott; Josep Redon; Dimitrios J Richter; Naveed Sattar; Yvo Smulders; Monica Tiberi; H Bart van der Worp; Ineke van Dis; W M Monique Verschuren; Simone Binno Journal: Eur Heart J Date: 2016-05-23 Impact factor: 29.983
Authors: Eduardo A F Nilson; Ana M Spaniol; Vivian S S Gonçalves; Michele L Oliveira; Norm Campbell; Mary L'Abbé; Patricia C Jaime Journal: J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich) Date: 2017-06-29 Impact factor: 3.738
Authors: Karl M F Emmert-Fees; Florian M Karl; Peter von Philipsborn; Eva A Rehfuess; Michael Laxy Journal: Adv Nutr Date: 2021-10-01 Impact factor: 8.701