Objective
To estimate the burden of disease and economic burden attributable to the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages in El Salvador.
Methods
A comparative risk model was used to estimate the effects on deaths, health events, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), and direct medical costs attributable to the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages.
Results
A total of 520 deaths (8 per 100 000 individuals), 214 082 health events (3 220 per 100 000 individuals) and 16 643 DALYs could be attributable to the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages in El Salvador, representing US$69.35 million in direct medical costs for the year 2020. In particular, type 2 diabetes (T2DM) events attributable to the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages could represent more than 20% of total T2DM cases in the country.
Conclusion
A high number of deaths, events, and costs could be attributed to the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages in El Salvador.