[Diet with usual quantity of salt in hospital treatment of congestive heart insufficiency].
OBJECTIVE
To study the consequences of a diet with usual salt quantity (non salt-restricted) on hospital treatment of congestive heart failure (CHF), in behalf of a better food intake.


METHODS
Thirty-two patients admitted to compensation of class III or IV CHF, randomly allowed to group I (2 g salt per day diet) or II (10 g salt). Hypertensive, renal failure or restrictive syndrome cases were excluded. Oral medication and water intake were standardized; furosemide dosage was adjusted on a daly basis, allowing the study of this drug's requirements in each group. Compensation of CHF was defined as a return to classes I or II without edema.


RESULTS
Group I included 14 and group II 18 patients. There was no significant difference between groups respective to the time needed for compensation of CHF (7.5 x 6.6 days, mean) percentual weight loss (12.2 x 10.0%), cumulative furosemide dosage (568 x 599 mg), mean daily furosemide dosage per kilogram of lean weight (1.43 x 1.58 mg/kg/day), and to 24-hour urinary excretion of sodium (241 x 254 mEq) and potassium (38.8 x 53.9 mEq). Small elevations of blood urea and potassium were an uniform trend. There was no significant alteration of plasmatic sodium. Food intake was adequate. There was one death for each group, from causes not directly related to CHF.


CONCLUSIONS
Dietary salt intake did not adversely influence in-hospital compensation of severe CHF in studied group. In selected cases, adoption of a more liberal diet in this aspect may allow the patient a better ingestion of food.
Velloso
L G
LG
Hospital Auxiliar de Cotoxó, Instituto do Coração do Hospital das Clínicas, FMUSP, São Paulo.
Alonso
R R
RR
Ciscato
C M
CM
Barretto
A C
AC
Bellotti
G
G
Pileggi
F
F
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004231:Diuresis / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005665:Furosemide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000097:blood / Q000178:diet therapy*; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011188:Potassium / Q000097:blood; D011897:Random Allocation; D012982:Sodium, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014508:Urea / Q000097:blood
D012982:Sodium, Dietary; D005665:Furosemide; D014508:Urea; D011188:Potassium
Dieta com quantidades habituais de sal no tratamento hospitalar da insuficiência cardíaca congestiva.