High salt intake is associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular events: a 7.2-year evaluation of a cohort of hypertensive patients

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2016

Authors

Polonia, J (Author) FMUP; Monteiro, J (Author) Other; Almeida, J (Author) Other; Silva, JA (Author) Other; Bertoquini, S (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Blood Pressure Monitoring

Vol. 21

Pages: 301-306

ISSN: 1359-5237

Publisher: Wolters Kluwer Health

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 15 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00M-4A1

DOI: 10.1097/mbp.0000000000000205

Abstract (EN): BackgroundIt is controversial whether high salt intake is directly associated with cardiovascular (CV) events and how far this relation is independent of blood pressure (BP). As Portugal has higher salt consumption and higher mortality by stroke than other European countries, we examined whether salt intake could predict the development of stroke and CV events in a hypertensive population.MethodsIn a longitudinal retrospective study of a cohort of 608 adult treated hypertensive patients 54.114.3 years of age, BMI 29.38.3kg/m(2), 56.3% women and 17.1% diabetics, we evaluate the long-term prognostic significance of urinary sodium (UNa) excretion measured in 24h valid samples within the first 3 months after admission along with 24h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and pulse wave velocity [(PWV), complior)] measurements.ResultsThe mean follow-up duration was 7.2 years (0.5-11.1 years), during which 122 CV events occurred including 80 strokes and 36 coronary events. In 608 patients (group A=507 without events and group B=101 with events: 69 strokes, 26 coronary events, six others), the mean 24h UNa was 208 +/- 79mmol/day, corresponding to a salt intake of 12.1 +/- 4.6g/day. Twenty-four hours UNa correlated positively with BMI, PWV and systolic blood pressure (SBP) particularly with night-time SBP. Group B versus A showed higher UNa (260+98 vs. 198+71mmol/day, P<0.001) and higher PWV, BP office, 24h, daytime and night-time SBP. Logistic regression analysis identified age, night-time SBP and 24h UNa+ [HR=1.09 (95% CI, 1.06-1.12, P<0.001)] for each 10mmol increase of UNa+ as the only independent predictors of CV events. UNa+ above the median (189mmol sodium/day) predicted CV events with HR=2.99 (95% CI, 1.75-5.13, P<0.001) with worse CV event-free survival rates (log rank statistics of 17.44, P<0.001).ConclusionIn a cohort of hypertensive patients, high salt intake independently predicts the occurrence of CV events, particularly of stroke.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 6