Gender differences in adherence to the sodium-restricted diet in patients with heart failure.
BACKGROUND
Despite the importance of the sodium-restricted diet (SRD) to heart failure (HF) management, patient adherence is poor. Little is known about gender differences in adherence or factors that affect patients' ability to follow SRD recommendations. The purposes of this study were to determine whether there were gender differences in (1) adherence to the SRD; (2) knowledge about SRD and HF self-care; and (3) perceived barriers to following the SRD.


RESULTS
Forty-one men and 27 women completed the Heart Failure Attitudes and Barriers questionnaire that measured HF self-care, knowledge, and perceived barriers to follow an SRD. Diet adherence was measured by 24-hour urinary sodium excretion (UNa). Women were more adherent to the SRD than men as reflected by 24-hour urine excretion (2713 versus 3859 mg UNa, P = .01). Women recognized signs of excess sodium intake such as fluid buildup (P = .001) and edema (P = .01) more often than men and had better understanding of appropriate actions to take related to following an SRD. There were no gender differences in perceived barriers to follow an SRD.


CONCLUSIONS
Although men and women perceived similar barriers, women were more adherent to the SRD and had greater knowledge about following an SRD. Further investigation of this phenomenon is warranted to determine if better adherence contributes to improved outcomes in women.
Chung
Misook L
ML
University of Kentucky, College of Nursing, Lexington, Kentucky 40536-0232, USA.
Moser
Debra K
DK
Lennie
Terry A
TA
Worrall-Carter
Linda
L
Bentley
Brooke
B
Trupp
Robin
R
Armentano
Deborah S
DS
D000368:Aged; D002303:Cardiac Output, Low / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004039:Diet, Sodium-Restricted; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors