Evidence-based estimation of health care cost savings from the use of omega-3 supplementation among the elderly in Korea

Abstract

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVESBy the year 2050, thirty-eight percent of the Korean population will be over the age of 65. Health care costs for Koreans over age 65 reached 15.4 trillion Korean won in 2011, accounting for a third of the total health care costs for the population. Chronic degenerative diseases, including coronary heart disease (CHD), drive long-term health care costs at an alarming annual rate. In the elderly population, loss of independence is one of the main reasons for this increase in health care costs. Korean heath policies place a high priority on the prevention of CHD because it is a major cause of morbidity and mortality.SUBJECTS/METHODSThis evidence-based study aims to the estimate potential health care cost savings resulting from the daily intake of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation. Potential cost savings associated with a reduced risk of CHD and the medical costs potentially avoided through risk reduction, including hospitalizations and physician services, were estimated using a Congressional Budget Office cost accounting methodology.RESULTSThe estimate of the seven-year (2005-2011) net savings in medical costs resulting from a reduction in the incidence of CHD among the elderly population through the daily use of omega-3 fatty acids was approximately 210 billion Korean won. Approximately 92,997 hospitalizations due to CHD could be avoided over the seven years.CONCLUSIONSOur findings suggest that omega-3 supplementation in older individuals may yield substantial cost-savings by reducing the risk of CHD. It should be noted that additional health and cost benefits need to be revisited and re-evaluated as more is known about possible data sources or as new data become available.

Assessing Health and Economic Benefits of Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation on Cardiovascular Disease in the Republic of Korea

“…Two points of this study are whether omega-3 intake effectively reduces the incidence of CVD using recently published RCT studies and whether its effects can be applied to domestic adults to reduce social costs, including healthcare costs. There was an attempt to estimate the cost-saving effect of omega-3 intake on healthcare in the Republic of Korea in 2015 [ 26 ], where some issues were discussed that needed addressing, and updated costs were used to estimate their study. In our study, therefore, we conducted a comprehensive meta-analysis using the most updated studies possible, then linked the meta-analysis results with various data relating to Korean adults’ healthcare costs, including direct medical/non-medical costs and indirect costs, to evaluate the health and economic benefits of omega-3 supplements.…”

“…Nevertheless, few studies have been conducted on the healthcare cost associated with cardiovascular disease from omega-3 consumption in the Republic of Korea. A study by Hwang et al estimated that the net medical cost savings caused by a CVD incidence reduction due to the omega-3 intake in the Korean elderly group was about KRW 210 billion over seven years from 2005 to 2011; however, they used an average annual cost for the daily intake of omega-3 from US data [ 26 ]. Therefore, further studies still need to be adapted more to the Republic of Korea.…”

Dietary intake as a predictor for all-cause mortality in hemodialysis subjects (NUGE-HD study)

“…On the other hand, health benefits of PUFA intake vary among PUFA types. The consumption of n-3 PUFA has been related to a reduced risk of CVD and death due to its anti-inflammatory effect [42,43], while effects of n-6 PUFA intake are still controversial because of their pro- inflammatory and prothrombotic related-pathways [44]. It is worth mentioning that the result found may vary according to the fatty acid profile of the diet of each population.…”