OBJECTIVES: To determine the cost-utility of dietary sodium reduction in the Canadian population, given on the anticipated effect on incident cardiovascular disease (CVD).

METHODS: The Canadian Cardiovascular Disease Policy Model is a state transition model, which simulates CVD events, healthcare costs and consequences from the perspective of a publically funded healthcare system for the Canadian population. We evaluated the economic impact of reducing the dietary sodium intake of Canadian adults.

RESULTS: Over a 50-year time horizon, reducing dietary sodium by 1800 mg/day is projected to reduce the cumulative incidence of coronary heart disease and stroke by 2.66% and 4.45% respectively, while decreasing the total number of myocardial infarctions and strokes by 2.23% and 4.45% respectively. The model predicted a decrease in overall mortality of 0.47%, a gain of 1.22 million QALYs, and a savings of $20.7 billion in healthcare costs.

CONCLUSION: Reducing dietary sodium intake at the population level has the potenital to substantially decrease healthcare costs and improve health outcomes.