TY - JOUR
T1 - An economic evaluation of salt reduction policies to reduce coronary heart disease in england
T2 - A policy modeling study
AU - Collins, Marissa
AU - Mason, Helen
AU - O'Flaherty, Martin
AU - Guzman-Castillo, Maria
AU - Critchley, Julia
AU - Capewell, Simon
PY - 2014/7
Y1 - 2014/7
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
KW - UK policy
KW - cardiovascular disease
KW - economic evaluation
KW - population health
KW - salt
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84906215223&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jval.2014.03.1722
DO - 10.1016/j.jval.2014.03.1722
M3 - Article
C2 - 25128044
AN - SCOPUS:84906215223
SN - 1098-3015
VL - 17
SP - 517
EP - 524
JO - Value in Health
JF - Value in Health
IS - 5
ER -