Cost-effectiveness of Mediterranean diet and physical activity in secondary cardiovascular disease prevention: results from the UCC-SMART cohort study

Aims The efficacy of a healthy lifestyle in secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is well established and a first-line recommendation in CVD prevention guidelines. The aim of this study was to assess whether Mediterranean diet and physical activity are also cost-effective in patients with established CVD. Methods and results A cost–utility analysis (CUA) was performed comparing a combined Mediterranean diet and physical activity intervention to usual care in patients with CVD. The CUA had a healthcare perspective and lifetime horizon. Costs and utilities were estimated using a microsimulation on a cohort of 100 000 patients with CVD sampled from the Utrecht Cardiovascular Cohort—Secondary Manifestations of ARTerial disease study (n = 8947, mean age 62 ± 8.7 years, and 74% male). Cost-effectiveness was expressed as an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER), incremental net health benefit (INHB), and incremental net monetary benefit (INMB). Mediterranean diet and physical activity yielded 2.0 incremental quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) and cost reductions of €1236 per person compared with usual care, resulting in an ICER of €−626/QALY [95% confidence interval (CI) −1929 to 2673]. At a willingness-to-pay of €20 000/QALY, INHB was 2.04 (95% CI 0.99–3.58) QALYs and INMB was €40 757 (95% CI 19 819–71 605). The interventions remained cost-effective in a wide range of sensitivity analyses, including worst-case scenarios and scenarios with reimbursement for food and physical activity costs. Conclusion In patients with established CVD, a combined Mediterranean diet and physical activity intervention was cost-saving and highly cost-effective compared with usual care. These findings strongly advocate for the incorporation of lifestyle interventions as integral components of care for all patients with CVD.