Table 3.

Cost-effectiveness of interventions in developing countries to reduce sodium intake

1st author, year/analysis type/country	Populations/interventions	Study design and methods	Main results
Rubinstein 2009/generalized cost-effectiveness analysis/Argentina	Over 3 million people in Buenos Aires, Argentina/population and individual-based salt programs	WHO-CHOICE methodology	The population-based reduction in the amount of salt in bread was most cost-effective (ARS$ 151 per DALY saved) among the analyzed interventions.
Asaria 2007/deaths averted versus cost of implementation/23 low-income or middle-income countries	General population in 23 low-income and middle-income countries (no specific population mentioned)/population-based program	WHO comparative risk assessment	The population-based salt reduction could be implemented without great cost (US$ 0.04 to 0.32 per person year) or structural change (in the health system) and could greatly reduce the death rate from chronic diseases.
Murray 2003/costs of selected interventions, health effects/southeast Asia, Latin America, and Europe	General population (no specifics provided)/population-based program	Methods taken from WHO-CHOICE project	Government action to stimulate a reduction in the amount of salt contained in processed foods is cost-effective for limiting cardiovascular disease.

ARS $, Argentine pesos; DALY, disability-adjusted life-year, WHO, World Health Organization, WHO-CHOICE, World Health Organization-choosing interventions that are cost-effective.