title: Reported high salt intake is associated with increased prevalence of abdominal aortic aneurysm and larger aortic diameter in older men.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Salt intake has been implicated in the pathogenesis of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) through studies in rodent models but not previously studied in humans. The aim of this study was to examine the association between reported addition of salt to food and the prevalence of AAA.
  
  
  METHODS
  A risk factor questionnaire which contained a question about salt intake was included as part of a population screening study for AAA in 11742 older men. AAA presence was assessed by abdominal ultrasound imaging using a reproducible protocol.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of AAA was 6.9, 8.5 and 8.6% in men who reported adding salt to food never, sometimes and always, respectively, p = 0.005. Addition of salt to food sometimes (odds ratio [OR]: 1.22, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03-1.44) or always (OR: 1.23, 95% CI 1.04-1.47) was independently associated with AAA after adjustment for other risk factors including age, waist-hip ratio, blood pressure, history of hypertension, high cholesterol, angina, diabetes, myocardial infarction and stroke. Salt intake was also independently associated with aortic diameter (beta 0.023, p = 0.012). In men with no prior history of hypertension, high cholesterol, angina, myocardial infarction or stroke (n = 4185), the association between addition of salt to food sometimes (OR: 1.41, 95% CI 0.96-2.08) or always (OR: 1.52, 95% CI 1.04-2.22) and AAA remained evident.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Reported salt intake is associated with AAA in older men. Additional studies are needed to determine whether reducing salt intake would protect against AAA.
authors.affiliation: Queensland Research Centre for Peripheral Vascular Disease, School of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia; Department of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, The Townsville Hospital, Townsville, Australia.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Golledge
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia; Department of Neurology, Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, Australia.
authors.forename: Graeme J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Hankey
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia; Department of Endocrinology, Fremantle Hospital, Fremantle, Australia.
authors.forename: Bu B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Yeap
authors.affiliation: School of Psychiatry & Clinical Neurosciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia; WA Centre for Health & Ageing, Centre for Medical Research, Perth, Australia; Department of Psychiatry, Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, Australia.
authors.forename: Osvaldo P
authors.initials: OP
authors.lastname: Almeida
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia; WA Centre for Health & Ageing, Centre for Medical Research, Perth, Australia; Department of Geriatric Medicine, Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, Australia.
authors.forename: Leon
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Flicker
authors.affiliation: School of Surgery, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia.
authors.forename: Paul E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Norman
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001011:Aorta / Q000473:pathology*; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D005502:Food; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary / Q000009:adverse effects*; D020521:Stroke / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary