Hypertensives' Knowledge About High-Sodium Foods and Their Behavior.
BACKGROUND
In Brazil, the prevalence of systemic arterial hypertension (SAH) is approximately 30% of the total population. In 2010, SAH was the cause of death of about 9.4 million people worldwide. A healthy dietary pattern is important to maintain proper blood pressure levels and, consequently, disease control.


OBJECTIVE
To describe the knowledge and practices of hypertensive patients cared for at a public hypertension outpatient clinic, and its relationship with high-sodium food.


METHODS
We applied a questionnaire to patients with questions related to sociodemographics, dietary pattern, frequency of ingestion of certain foods, and knowledge about their own disease.


RESULTS
We studied 221 patients, 56.1% of whom were women, and 53.8% had only elementary education. Their mean age was 57.7 ±13.5 years, and 75.6% of them reported having high blood pressure, and 11.3%, diabetes mellitus. Regarding dietary pattern, 62% used ready-to-use seasonings, but 94.1% reported not adding extra salt to their ready meals. Regarding patients' knowledge about high-sodium foods and SAH, only 8 patients had 100% of right answers, 37 patients had 73.8%, and 42 patients, 57% of right answers.


CONCLUSIONS
Knowledge about SAH prevention and high-sodium foods was insufficient. Based on this study's findings, more effective educational strategies targeted at this population can be developed.
Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Juliana de Fátima
Jde F
Teixeira
Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Maíra Ribas
MR
Goulart
Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Fernanda Michielin
FM
Busnello
Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Lucia Campos
LC
Pellanda
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D012982:Sodium, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
D012982:Sodium, Dietary