Abstract
This study investigated the effect of the sodium to potassium ratio on hypertension prevalence and blood pressure. The study population was constructed by pooling the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys between 2010 and 2014. The study population was divided into quartiles based on the sodium to potassium ratio, and the effect was inferred by the difference in hypertension prevalence across quartiles by six pairwise comparisons using a propensity score matching technique. The quartiles with the higher sodium to potassium ratio had higher hypertension prevalence rates based on the following pairwise comparisons: the first vs. third quartile, the first vs. fourth quartile, the second vs. third quartile, and the second vs. fourth quartile. The prevalence differences were 2.74% point (p < 0.05), 3.44% point (p < 0.01), 2.47% point (p < 0.05), and 2.95% point (p < 0.01), respectively. In addition, statistically significant higher systolic (p < 0.05) and diastolic blood pressure (p < 0.01) was observed in the second quartiles compared to the first quartiles. Because a strong association was also detected between the sodium to potassium ratio and blood pressure even at a low level of sodium to potassium ratio, a lower sodium to potassium ratio diet than a usual diet is recommended to control high blood pressure in Korea.
Highlights
The hypertension prevalence rates of Korean male and female adults aged 30 years or above are 32.4% and 22.2% in Korea [1], respectively
Hypertension attracts attention as a strong risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and stroke, which are responsible for the highest mortality rates in Korea [1]
The average body mass index (BMI) was 22.87 ̆ 0.03; this was affected by the exclusion of obese subjects with chronic diseases
Summary
The hypertension prevalence rates of Korean male and female adults aged 30 years or above are 32.4% and 22.2% in Korea [1], respectively. Hypertension alone claims two trillion Korean won, which amounts to approximately two billion U.S dollars, in medical expenses annually [2]. Hypertension causes some of the heaviest social burdens through medical insurance and personal suffering. Hypertension attracts attention as a strong risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and stroke, which are responsible for the highest mortality rates in Korea [1]. Sodium intake is a significant risk factor of hypertension and has been the target of health policies to reduce hypertension prevalence. Many countries have performed public health measures to reduce sodium intake, and these measures are based upon the association between sodium intake and hypertension
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