title: Prevalence of Sodium and Fluid Restriction Recommendations for Patients with Pulmonary Hypertension.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH) are often afflicted with the consequences of right heart failure including volume overload. Counseling to assist the patient in the dietary restriction of sodium and fluid may be underutilized.
  
  
  METHODS
  Consecutive patients seen in the PH Clinic at Mayo Clinic in Florida from June to November 2013.
  
  
  RESULTS
  100 patients were included; 70 were women and most had group 1 PH (n = 69). Patient characteristics using mean (±SD) were: Age 63 ± 13 years, functional class 3 ± 1, brain natriuretic peptide 302 ± 696 pg/mL, 6-min walk 337 ± 116 m, right atrial pressure 8 ± 5 mmHg, and mean pulmonary artery pressure 42 ± 13 mmHg. Overall, 79 had had complete (32) or partial instruction (47) and 21 had no prior counseling to restrict sodium or fluid. Of the 47 with partial instruction, 42 received complete education during the PH Clinic visit. Of the 21 without prior instruction, 19 received complete education during the PH visit. Seven patients with the opportunity to have their education enhanced or provided did not receive any additional counseling during the PH visit.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sodium and fluid restriction is an important but perhaps underutilized strategy to manage volume overload in patients with right heart failure. Focused questioning and education may permit an increase in the patients receiving instruction in this regard.
authors.affiliation: Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Rd, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA. zeiger.tonya@mayo.edu.
authors.forename: Tonya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zeiger
authors.affiliation: Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Rd, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA. Cueva.giovanna@mayo.edu.
authors.forename: Giovanna Cueva
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Cobo
authors.affiliation: Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Rd, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA. cdilling@wakehealth.edu.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dillingham
authors.affiliation: Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Rd, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA. burger.charles@mayo.edu.
authors.forename: Charles D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Burger
keywords: fluid restriction; pulmonary hypertension; sodium restriction