title: Association of sodium and potassium intake with ventricular arrhythmic burden in patients with essential hypertension.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hypertensive populations suffer from an increased susceptibility to ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. A high-salt diet appears to be a major factor involved in cardiovascular complications in hypertension. We examined the relationship between dietary salt and potassium, as indicated by urinary sodium (UNa), urinary potassium (UK), and urinary sodium/potassium ratio (UNa/K), and the arrhythmic burden in patients with essential hypertension.
  
  
  METHODS
  We included 255 consecutive adult patients with well-controlled hypertension who were being followed in the hypertension outpatient clinic of a university tertiary hospital and complained of episodes of atypical chest pain and/or palpitations. All underwent 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiograph monitoring and their UNa, UK, and UNa/K ratio from 24-hour urinary excretion specimens were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant correlation was found between premature supraventricular contractions and the parameters that were examined. However, the percentage of premature ventricular contractions (PVC%) showed a weak positive association with UNa (r = 0.2; P = .001) and a moderate negative association with UK (r = -0.396; P < .001). The partial correlation coefficient of PVC% with the UNa/UK ratio remained significant even after controlling for left ventricular mass index (r = 0.437; P < .001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A higher UNa/UK excretion ratio is significantly associated with PVCs, indicating an increased susceptibility to ventricular arrhythmias even among hypertensives with well-controlled blood pressure. Our findings reinforce recommendations for dietary interventions in those populations.
authors: Department of Cardiology, University Hospital of Heraklion, Crete, Greece. maryemarke@yahoo.gr
authors: Maria E
authors: ME
authors: Marketou
authors: Evangelos A
authors: EA
authors: Zacharis
authors: Fragiskos
authors: F
authors: Parthenakis
authors: George E
authors: GE
authors: Kochiadakis
authors: Spyros
authors: S
authors: Maragkoudakis
authors: Gregory
authors: G
authors: Chlouverakis
authors: Panos E
authors: PE
authors: Vardas
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D004039:Diet, Sodium-Restricted; D015716:Electrocardiography, Ambulatory; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017419:Potassium, Dietary / Q000652:urine*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012982:Sodium, Dietary / Q000652:urine*; D018879:Ventricular Premature Complexes / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D017419:Potassium, Dietary; D012982:Sodium, Dietary
keywords: Essential hypertension; urinary potassium; urinary sodium; ventricular arrhythmias