Table 1 Inclusion and exclusion criteria

• Models starting with a general or low-risk population and without any CMDs (without clinically diagnoses of CVD/T2DM—disease free)

• The model predicts the long-term/lifetime outcomes (> 10 years)

• Adult population (≥ 18 years)

• Mathematical models that are able to accommodate both health and economic outcomes (cost-effectiveness evidence)

• Only models which were assessing and evaluating primordial prevention strategies (restricted to regulations/policy for population dietary, limited to sugar/salt/sodium and fruit/vegetables public health policies) targeting the whole population or population-based prevention

• Clinical studies, cell and animal studies

• Models starting with CMD and those for specific subgroups only (such as: obese adults, people with hypertension)

• Models focussing on accuracy or cost-effectiveness of diagnostic tools, primary prevention with medication (i.e.: statin use)

• Models that reported effectiveness only

• Models that were published as presentations, abstracts, commentaries, letters, and review articles