Abstract
An ageing population and growing prevalence of chronic diseases including cardiovascular disease (CVD) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) are putting increased pressure on healthcare expenditure in Australia. A cost of illness analysis was conducted to assess the potential savings in healthcare expenditure and productivity costs associated with lower prevalence of CVD and T2D resulting from increased intake of cereal fibre. Modelling was undertaken for three levels of increased dietary fibre intake using cereal fibre: a 10% increase in total dietary fibre; an increase to the Adequate Intake; and an increase to the Suggested Dietary Target. Total healthcare expenditure and productivity cost savings associated with reduced CVD and T2D were calculated by gender, socioeconomic status, baseline dietary fibre intake, and population uptake. Total combined annual healthcare expenditure and productivity cost savings of AUD$17.8 million–$1.6 billion for CVD and AUD$18.2 million–$1.7 billion for T2D were calculated. Total savings were generally larger among adults of lower socioeconomic status and those with lower dietary fibre intakes. Given the substantial healthcare expenditure and productivity cost savings that could be realised through increases in cereal fibre, there is cause for the development of interventions and policies that encourage an increase in cereal fibre intake in Australia.
Highlights
Chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease (CVD) and type 2 diabetes (T2D), have been regarded as Australia’s biggest health challenge and are the leading cause of illness, disability and mortality [1]
This study aimed to determine the potential economic savings, in terms of healthcare expenditure and productivity costs associated with reduced rates of CVD and T2D expected from increasing intakes of cereal fibre among Australian adults
Health and Medical Research Council; NZ MoH, New Zealand Ministry of Health; AIHW, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. “10% higher” is a 10% increase in current fibre intakes and is equivalent to an increase of between 2.1–2.5 g per day; “adequate intake” is an increase in current dietary fibre intake to 30 g per day for males and 25 g per day for females and is equivalent to an increase of 3.9–5.2 g per day; and “target intake” is an increase in current dietary intake to 38 g per day for males and 28 g per day for females and is equivalent to an increase of 6.9–13.2 g per day
Summary
Chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease (CVD) and type 2 diabetes (T2D), have been regarded as Australia’s biggest health challenge and are the leading cause of illness, disability and mortality [1]. As a result of heath expenditures and lost productivity from increased morbidity and mortality, these diseases bring a significant economic burden to individuals and government [1]. Strategies to lower the prevalence of these diseases and their associated costs are increasingly important. Cost-of-illness studies are essential in developing the rhetoric for these strategies. In Australia, total healthcare expenditure has more than doubled since 2003 [2] and it is predicted to more than triple in the coming years, from AUD$129.7 billion in 2011–12 to AUD$416.3 billion in 2031–32 [3]. In the Nutrients 2018, 10, 34; doi:10.3390/nu10010034 www.mdpi.com/journal/nutrients
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