Journal of clinical hypertension | 2021
Impact of self-monitoring of salt intake by salt meter in hypertensive patients: A randomized controlled trial (SMAL-SALT).
Abstract
Salt intake over reference level would result in elevated blood pressure (BP) and long-term morbidity. Salt meter is a device used to detect sodium content in daily food. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of salt-meter addition to dietary education. The authors conducted a randomized-controlled trial in hypertensive patients with uncontrolled BP (systolic BP ≥140\xa0mmHg or diastolic BP ≥90\xa0mmHg). Patients were randomized to receive salt meter plus dietary education (group A) or education only (group B), and followed up for 8\xa0weeks. The primary endpoint was change in 24-h urinary sodium excretion. Changes in BP, salt taste sensitivity, cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) were also analyzed. There were total number of 90 patients who had complete follow-up, 45 in each group. Mean age was 62.9 years and 53% were females. Mean baseline 24-h urine sodium was 151.6\xa0mmol/24 h and mean SBP and DBP were 152.8 and 83.4\xa0mmHg, respectively. Baseline characteristics were similar between two groups. At 8\xa0weeks, mean change in urine sodium were -31.83\xa0mmol/24 h and 0.36\xa0mmol/24 h in group A and group B, respectively (p\xa0=\xa0.006). Mean decrease in BP were SBP, 14.44\xa0versus 8.22\xa0mmHg (p\xa0=\xa0.030), and DBP 5.53\xa0versus 1.93\xa0mmHg (p\xa0=\xa0.032). The salt sensitivity was improved more in group A. There was no different between change in CAVI. From this study, salt meter in conjunction with dietary education, for self-monitoring of salt intake is superior to education alone in hypertensive patients, and provided better blood pressure control. Salt meter should be considered in uncontrolled hypertensive patients.