Key result
Reducing population salt consumption by 30% in the Eurasian Economic Union would have prevented an estimated 94,150 cardiovascular deaths in the baseline year.
Why the study?
The WHO set global targets to reduce non-communicable disease mortality by 2030, but the potential mortality impact of reducing population salt intake in Eurasian Economic Union member states had not been modeled.
Does reducing salt intake by 30% or to 5 g/day prevent cardiovascular deaths in the Eurasian Economic Union?
Does reducing salt intake by 30% or to 5 g/day prevent cardiovascular deaths in the Eurasian Economic Union?
Achieving WHO salt reduction targets in the Eurasian Economic Union could prevent up to 193,155 cardiovascular deaths, highlighting the need for effective policy changes.
Supports salt reduction policies in the Eurasian Economic Union; leaves open confirmation of mortality benefits in prospective trials.
The World Health Organization has set clear global targets in reducing non-communicable disease mortality by 2030 in its sustainable development goals. This study models the number of deaths that could be averted if Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) member states met the target of reducing their population's current mean salt intake by 30% to achieve mortality reduction targets. Using the WHO Preventable Risk Integrated ModEl (PRIME), we modelled the mortality impact of reducing salt consumption by 30%, as well as according to WHO recommended levels (5 g/person/day), for the five member states of the EEU. PRIME models the number of averted deaths from reducing salt intake by applying established risk ratios to a given population. The baseline demographic and mortality data that are required to generate these estimates were obtained from the relevant government statistical bodies, and salt intake data were referenced from surveillance studies. Uncertainty intervals were generated using Monte Carlo simulation. If salt consumption was reduced by 30%, we estimate that there would have been 94,150 (95%UI: 47,329 to 137,131) fewer deaths due to cardiovascular disease in the EEU in the baseline year, with males and the elderly being more affected. If the WHO-recommended maximum salt intake of 5 g/day was achieved, a total of 193,155 (95%UI: 98,548 to 272,536) deaths would have been prevented. These findings underline the importance of incorporating effective policy changes to meet targets in reducing NCD mortality by one-third by 2030.
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Perera et al. (2023) studied Cardiovascular disease mortality. Population-level salt intake reduction vs. Current baseline salt intake was evaluated on Averted deaths due to cardiovascular disease (94,150 fewer deaths, 95% CI 47,329-137,131). Reducing population salt consumption by 30% in the Eurasian Economic Union would have prevented an estimated 94,150 cardiovascular deaths in the baseline year.
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