Dietitian Key Facts
Below are some evidence-based key facts about the role of dietitians in treating a number of medical conditions.
Cardiovascular disease (CVD)
Using dietitians to support even 10% of a consortia’s overweight population to lose just 1kg saves around £12,500 p.a. for cardiovascular medication prescriptions alone.[i] Weight loss also brings improvements to other co-morbidites, therefore reducing prescribing costs and potential avoidance of hospital admissions. An hour of dietetic input over three sessions has such a positive benefit and only costs around £31.[ii]
Nutrition interventions are potentially the most cost-effective method of tackling CVD.[iii] The Lyon Diet Heart Study showed that dietetic intervention emphasising a cardio-protective diet provided a 50-70% reduced risk of long term heart disease recurrence in patients.[iv]
[i] The Counterweight Project Team 2008. Influence of body mass index on prescribing costs and potential cost savings of a weight management programme in primary care. Journal of Health Services Research & Policy, 13, 3, 158–166
[ii] Curtis, L. 2011. Unit costs of health and social care 2011. Personal Social Sciences Research Unit. Kent.
[iii] Dalziel K. & Segal L. (2007) Time to give nutrition interventions a higher profile: cost-effectiveness of 10 nutrition interventions. Health Promotion International; 22, 4, 271-283.
[iv] Kris-Etherton P. et al., (2001) Lyon Diet Heart Study. Circulation. 103, 1823-1825
