Extended Cost-Effectiveness Analyses of Cardiovascular Risk Factor Reduction Policies

Abstract

This chapter summarizes lessons learned from three extended cost-effectiveness analyses (ECEAs) conducted on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factor reduction policies, specifically highlighting new insights into the differential impacts of well-established CVD prevention interventions, identifying priority issues for future ECEAs to address, and drawing some conclusions and implications for public health policy. Tobacco taxation, salt reduction, and primary prevention of CVD in high-risk individuals remain widely regarded as best buys in global noncommunicable disease policy, and the ECEAs confirm the findings of previous CEAs, namely, that these interventions will likely result in large health gains in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The ECEAs also present new insights into the broader health system and economic impacts of these interventions. By preventing CVD, nonclinical interventions like population-based tobacco and salt reduction can effectively purchase additional financial risk protection (FRP) beyond what governments can accomplish through public finance of clinical treatments.