Cost-effectiveness of vitamin D<sub>3</sub> supplementation in older adults with vitamin D deficiency in Ireland
Authors
Armstrong, David J
Royle, Emily
Magee, Pamela
Pourshahidi, L Kirsty
Ray, Sumantra
Strain, JJ
McSorley, Emeir
Publication Date
2022-06Journal Title
BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health
ISSN
2516-5542
Publisher
BMJ
Language
en
Type
Article
This Version
VoR
Metadata
Show full item recordCitation
Lacey, L. F., Armstrong, D. J., Royle, E., Magee, P., Pourshahidi, L. K., Ray, S., Strain, J., & et al. (2022). Cost-effectiveness of vitamin D<sub>3</sub> supplementation in older adults with vitamin D deficiency in Ireland. BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjnph-2021-000382
Abstract
<jats:sec><jats:title>Background</jats:title><jats:p>This study investigated the cost-effectiveness of vitamin D<jats:sub>3</jats:sub> supplementation in older adults in Ireland, with year-round vitamin D deficiency (serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration <30 nmol/L) (13% of Irish adults), from the perspective of the Health Service Executive.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods</jats:title><jats:p>Three age groups were investigated: (1) ≥50 years, (2) ≥60 years and (3) ≥70 years. Based on the clinical literature, vitamin D<jats:sub>3</jats:sub> supplementation may: (1) decrease all-cause mortality by 7% and (2) reduce hip fractures by 16% and non-hip fractures by 20%. A discount rate of 4% was applied to life years and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) gained, and healthcare costs. The annual healthcare costs per patient used in the model are based on the average annual health resource use over the 5-year time horizon of the model.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results</jats:title><jats:p>The cost/QALY estimates in all three age groups are below the usually acceptable cost-effectiveness threshold of €20 000/QALY. The most cost-effective and least costly intervention was in adults ≥70 years. For this age group, the average annual costs and outcomes would be approximately €5.6 million, 1044 QALYs gained, with a cost/QALY of approximately €5400. The results are most sensitive to the mortality risk reduction following vitamin D<jats:sub>3</jats:sub> supplementation.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusion</jats:title><jats:p>The cost-effectiveness of vitamin D<jats:sub>3</jats:sub> supplementation is most robust in adults ≥70 years. Clinical uncertainty in the magnitude of the benefits of vitamin D<jats:sub>3</jats:sub> supplementation could be further addressed by means of: (1) performing a clinical research study or (2) conducting a pilot/regional study, prior to reaching a decision to invest in a nationwide programme.</jats:p></jats:sec>
Keywords
Original research, 1506, nutrient deficiencies, nutrition assessment, nutritional treatment
Identifiers
bmjnph-2021-000382
External DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjnph-2021-000382
This record's URL: https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/337856
Rights
Licence:
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Statistics
Total file downloads (since January 2020). For more information on metrics see the
IRUS guide.