The Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of a Nationwide Vitamin D Supplementation Program Among Iranian Adolescents for Adulthood Cardiovascular Diseases Prevention Publisher Pubmed



Zandieh N¹ ; Rezaei Hemami M³ ; Darvishi A⁴ ; Hasheminejad SM⁵ ; Abdollahi Z⁶ ; Zarei M⁶ ; Heshmat R²
Source: Public Health Published:2021

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate a national vitamin D supplementation program's cost-effectiveness among Iranian adolescents to prevent cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in adulthood. Study design: A cost-effectiveness analytical study. Methods: A decision tree model was adopted to evaluate the cost per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) of monthly intake of nine pearls of 50,000 IU vitamin D for nine months to prevent CVD a one-year horizon compared to no intervention. The analysis was conducted in Iranian adolescents in first or second high school grades of 47 climatically different Iran regions. Results: Our analytical analysis estimated the 1090$ cost per QALY gained of the monthly intake of 50,000 IU vitamin D for nine months among adolescents over a one-year horizon. Based on the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) threshold of 1032–2666, vitamin D supplementation was cost-effective for adolescents to prevent adulthood CVD. It means that vitamin D supplementation costs were substantially less than the costs of CVD treatments compared to the no intervention. Conclusions: Based on these findings, the national program of vitamin D supplementation in adolescents would be cost effective to prevent CVD development in adulthood. From an economic perspective, vitamin D supplementation, especially in adolescents with vitamin D deficiency, would be administrated. © 2021 The Royal Society for Public Health