(P22-001-24) Healthy Eating Patterns Are Associated With Potential Savings in Medical and Productivity Losses Costs of Cardiovascular Disease in Kuwait: A Cost-of-Illness Analysis

Objectives: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in Kuwait, accounting for more than 40% of all deaths and costing the economy upwards of USD 1.6 billion a year in healthcare and lost productivity based on 2023 dollars. Closer adherence to healthy eating patterns has established improvement in cardiovascular health, along with a potential to enhance the productivity and economic prosperity of societies. This socioeconomic modeling aimed to assess the possible savings in medical and productivity losses costs that would follow a reported lower risk of CVD among adults in Kuwait with greater adherence to three classic examples of healthy eating patterns, including the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, Mediterranean-style diet, and plant-based diet.

Methods: Building on recent medical literature and monetary figures related to the economic burden of disease in Kuwait, a three-step cost-of-illness analysis was developed by employing: 1) estimates of present versus targeted rates of adherence to each of the three eating patterns under study among adult populations, 2) data of percent reduction in CVD relative risk (95% CI) following adherence to the healthy eating patterns, and 3) calculations of potential savings in annual medical (hospitalizations, physician visits, and prescription drugs) and productivity losses (absenteeism and presenteeism) costs related to CVD with improved adherence to the healthy eating patterns in Kuwait.

Results: Improvement in adherence to the healthy eating patterns of this study was associated with potential savings equal to USD 13.9 million (95% CI 11.4–17.1) to USD 207.9 million (95% CI 171.2–256.8) in direct medical and productivity losses costs related to CVD in Kuwait, with expected total discounted savings over a 20 year period equal to USD 192.1 million (95% CI 158.2–237.3) to USD 2,881 million (95% CI 2,373–3,559), given 'very pessimistic' (short-term) through 'ideal' (long-term) scenarios.

Conclusions: Substantial economic benefit is expected to accompany improved cardiovascular health with closer adherence to healthy eating patterns in Kuwait. The findings could encourage nutrition education and public health strategies in promoting healthy dietary behaviors by individuals and a healthier food environment at large.

Funding Sources: M.A. has received funding from Kuwait University.