Association of 24-h urinary salt excretion with central haemodynamics and assessment of food categories contributing to salt consumption in Portuguese patients with hypertension.

Objective: High salt intake has been associated with the development of arterial hypertension, but it still remains controversial as to how salt consumption relates with central haemodynamics and central pressures. For interventional purposes, it is crucial to identify the main food categories that contribute toward high salt consumption.

Methods: In 638 Caucasian hypertensive patients (age 50±15 years, 329 women) enrolled for 7 years, we evaluate the independent relationship between urinary sodium (UNa, mean 207±78 mEq/24 h) or potassium (UK, mean 79±26 mEq/24 h) excretion measured in validated 24-h samples and office blood pressure (BP), 24 h BP, central pulse pressure, and parameters of central pulse wave analysis.