Salt substitute cost-effective compared to antihypertensive drugs for treating prehypertensive individuals: Study

A recent study published in the Hypertension journal highlights the cost-effectiveness of salt substitution over antihypertensive drug treatment in managing prehypertension among Chinese adults, particularly for the individuals aged 40 and above. The findings illuminate the potential for significant public health benefits and cost savings through early lifestyle interventions.

The research incorporated data from the China Kadoorie Biobank, using real-world information on cardiovascular disease (CVD) events, costs, and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). By utilizing Markov cohort model, this study evaluated 3 interventions: salt substitution, antihypertensive drug treatment, and a combination of both. Costs and utilities were derived from published sources, and the interventions were assessed across different age groups and risk levels. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) provided a measure of value for each intervention per QALY gained.

By replacing traditional salt with a salt substitute for prehypertensive individuals starting at age 40 proved to be the most cost-effective strategy. With an ICER of $6413.62/QALY, this intervention showed substantial benefits in reducing CVD risk without the high costs associated with drug treatments.

For individuals at high risk of CVD, combining salt substitution with antihypertensive drug treatment offered the greatest reduction in CVD events. Initiating this combined approach at age 40 was effective by achieving a 5.3% reduction in CVD events with an ICER of $2913.30/QALY. This represented a better value when compared to starting at older ages, where the cost per QALY gained increased significantly.