Background: This study investigated the cost-effectiveness of vitamin D3 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.
Methods: Three age groups were investigated: (1) ≥50 years, (2) ≥60 years and (3) ≥70 years. Based on the clinical literature, vitamin D3 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.
Results: 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 D3 supplementation.
Conclusion: The cost-effectiveness of vitamin D3 supplementation is most robust in adults ≥70 years. Clinical uncertainty in the magnitude of the benefits of vitamin D3 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.
Objective: The objective of this study is to assess changes in the dimensions of the food system and consumption associated with body weight variations during the first month's lockdown in Peruvian adults in Metropolitan Lima.
Methods: A cross-sectional study conducted during the first months of lockdowns in Peru. 694 adults completed a web-based survey about changes experienced in the process of acquiring food during lockdown, changes in their intake and self-perceived body weight. A multinomial logistic regression analysis was conducted to evaluate the factors associated with changes in body weight.
Results: Weight gain was perceived in 38% of the participants and 22.8% perceived weight loss. 39.2% did not perceive changes in their weight. Risk factors for body weight gain were increased alcohol consumption (OR=4.510, 95% CI 1.764 to 11.531) and decreased fruit consumption (OR=2.129, 95% CI 1.290 to 3.515), while decreasing cereal intake (OR=0.498, 95% CI 0.269 to 0.922) and choosing nutritious food as a driver for purchase (OR=0.512, 95% CI 0.320 to 0.821) were found to be protective against gaining weight. Decreasing food intake during the pandemic (OR=2.188, 95% CI 1.348 to 3.550) and having to miss important foods (OR=2.354, 95% CI 1.393 to 3.978), were associated with weight loss.
Conclusions: During confinement, weight gain was mostly associated with food consumption and personal food system factors. Meanwhile, weight loss was associated with external food system factors.
Objective: To assess weight loss maintenance, diabetes status, mortality and morbidity 15 years after a very low calorie diet programme (VLCD) in patients with obesity.
Design: General practice data bases were interrogated for subjects coded for group therapy with VLCD in the 1990s. Causes of death, occurrence of vascular disease and remission or development of diabetes were ascertained from patient records and national stroke and cardiovascular disease data bases.
Results: 325 subjects engaged in the programme and had sufficient data for analysis. Baseline characteristics were: age 47.8±12. 8 years; body mass index (BMI) 36.1±6.8 kg/m2; 79.1% female/20.9% male; 13.5% had type 2 diabetes. After 15±4 years weight had changed from 97.9±19 kg at baseline to 100±20.8 kg. 10 with diabetes at baseline were in remission at 3 months, but only two remained in remission at 5 years. 50 new cases of type 2 diabetes and 11 of impaired fasting glucose developed during follow-up. Only 5.9% who remained healthy at follow-up had maintained >10% body weight reduction. Neither diabetes incidence nor diabetes free survival were related to percentage body weight lost during VLCD. Only baseline BMI was related to development of new impaired fasting glucose or diabetes by 15 years (p=0.007). 37 subjects had a cardiovascular event. Age (p=0.000002) and degree of weight loss after VLCD (p=0.03) were significantly associated with subsequent vascular events.
Conclusion: Long-term maintenance of weight loss after VLCD was rare in this single centre retrospective study 15 years later. Glucose intolerance developed in 21.4%. Lasting remission of type 2 diabetes or prevention of later glucose intolerance were not achieved. Vascular events were more frequent in those who lost most weight. Risk management during weight regain should be studied in future to assess potential for reduction in adverse cardiovascular outcomes.
Background: The potential of adopting a healthy lifestyle to fight non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is not fully used. We hypothesised that the Healthy Lifestyle Community Programme (HLCP, cohort 1) reduces weight and other risk markers compared with baseline and control.
Methods: 24-month, non-randomised, controlled intervention trial. Intervention: intensive 8-week phase with seminars, workshops and coaching focusing on a healthy lifestyle (eg, plant-based diet, physical activity, stress management) and group support followed by a 22-month alumni phase. Weight reduction as the primary outcome and other NCD risk parameters were assessed at six time points. Participants were recruited from the general population. Multiple linear regression analyses were conducted.
Results: 143 participants (58±12 years, 71% female) were enrolled (91 in the intervention (IG) and 52 in the control group (CG)). Groups' baseline characteristics were comparable, except participants of IG were younger, more often females, overweight and reported lower energy intake (kcal/day). Weight significantly decreased in IG at all follow-ups by -1.5 ± 1.9 kg after 8 weeks to -1.9 ± 4.0 kg after 24 months and more than in CG (except after 24 months). Being male, in the IG or overweight at baseline and having a university degree predicted more weight loss. After the intervention, there were more participants in the IG with a 'high' adherence (+12%) to plant-based food patterns. The change of other risk parameters was most distinct after 8 weeks and in people at elevated risk. Diabetes-related risk parameters did not improve.
Conclusion: The HLCP was able to reduce weight and to improve aspects of the NCD risk profile. Weight loss in the IG was moderate but maintained for 24 months. Participants of lower educational status might benefit from even more practical units. Future interventions should aim to include more participants at higher risk.
Trial registration number: DRKS00018821.

