Three Easy Ways to Save Almost 100 Million Lives Worldwide

Expanding blood pressure treatment, reducing dietary sodium, and eliminating trans fats could dramatically decrease mortality.

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading cause of death worldwide and are largely preventable through changes in modifiable risk factors. Researchers quantified the global impact of three public health interventions on NCD mortality: increasing the coverage of hypertension treatment to 70%, reducing dietary sodium by 30%, and eliminating trans fats.

Using data from a myriad of sources, including population health surveys and WHO Global Health Estimates, the investigators predicted changes in mortality between 2015 and 2040. According to the analysis, the three interventions could delay 94.3 million deaths during 25 years (39.4 million from boosting hypertension treatment, 40.0 million from reducing sodium intake, and 14.8 million from…

Reviewing Author

Fatima Rodriguez, MD, MPH, FACC, FAHA

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardNovoNordisk; HealthPals; Novartis; Amgen

EquityHealthPals; Carta

Grant/Research SupportNational Institutes of Health/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; American Heart Association–Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

Editorial BoardsCardiology and Therapy