Does subjective evaluation of the frequency of salty food intake predict the risk of incident hypertension? A 4-year follow-up study in a middle-aged population.
BACKGROUND
Excess salt intake increases blood pressure (BP). Identifying individuals with excess salt intake is, therefore, important for the prevention of hypertension.


OBJECTIVE
To examine the predictive value of subjective evaluation of salty foods intake for the risk of incident hypertension in a middle-aged population.


METHODS
A total of 970 non-hypertensive workers (mean age, 44 ± 6 years) was followed for a maximum period of 4 years, and their BP was measured annually. At baseline, all participants were asked about their subjective frequency of salty foods intake (seldom, sometimes or always), and they were divided into three groups according to their answers. Hypertension was defined as systolic/diastolic BP ≥ 140/90 mmHg or use of antihypertensive medications.


RESULTS
There were no significant differences in the 4-year cumulative incident rate of hypertension among the 'seldom', 'sometimes' and 'always' groups (15.8%, 14.3% and 10.3%, respectively, log-rank test P = 0.44). In a multivariate Cox proportional hazards model, age, body mass index and the baseline BP category were independent predictors for developing hypertension, whereas the frequency of salty foods intake was not a predictor (adjusted hazard ratio (95% confidence interval), 0.99 (0.64-1.54) in the 'sometimes' group and 0.64 (0.33-1.28) in the 'always' group as compared with the 'seldom' group).


CONCLUSIONS
The subjective evaluation of salty foods intake did not predict the 4-year risk of incident hypertension in this study population. Further investigations with a longer follow-up period are needed to clarify whether the present insignificant results are maintained for more than 4 years.
Department of Hygiene and Public Health, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan.
T
T
Otsuka
K
K
Kato
C
C
Ibuki
E
E
Kodani
Y
Y
Kusama
T
T
Kawada
D000328:Adult; D004435:Eating / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D057566:Self Report; D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects*
D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary
hypertension; questionnaire; risk factors; salty food intake