The Economic Impact of Dietary Sodium Reduction In Canada

Abstract

The average Canadian sodium intake is double the amount recommended. Excess dietary sodium consumption is a risk factor for the development of high blood pressure (BP), estimated to cause about 30% of hypertension and 17% of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The cost attributable to high dietary sodium intake in Canada is unknown. Mathematical modeling can be used to explore the potential health and economic impacts of a population-wide reduction in dietary sodium. The Canadian Cardiovascular Disease Policy model (C-CVDPM) is a computer simulation state transition model, which simulates CVD events, costs and health consequences from a public payer perspective for the Canadian population. It can be used to evaluate the economic impact of population health interventions. Using the CVDPM and a 50-year time horizon, we examined the health and economic impact of a population-wide reduction in dietary sodium of 1800 mg/day. Sensitivity analyses were conducted using modest dietary sodium reductions of 500 mg/day and 1500 mg/day. Reducing dietary sodium by 1800 mg/day is projected to reduce the annual number of new cases of coronary heart disease by 199,808, stroke by 120,381, and myocardial infarction by 115,528, and to reduce the annual number of deaths from any cause, including CVD by 89,734. Overall, the model projected a gain of 24,285 quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), and a savings of $414 million, annually. Modest reductions in dietary sodium intake were also cost saving. A population-wide reduction in dietary sodium could substantially decrease healthcare costs and improve health outcomes. The results of this work may be useful to policy makers in revising Canadian sodium regulation and policy.