Objective: This study aimed to objectively assess sodium (Na) and potassium (K) intake and examine their correlation with blood pressure (BP) and hypertension among adult populations from urban, agricultural, and stock-raising Xinjiang, China. Design and method: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 678 participants aged more than18 years, recruited via multistage random sampling from Emin County. Sodium and potassium intake were estimated from a rigorously quality-controlled 24-hour urine collection. Blood pressure was measured using standardized protocols. Data were analyzed using analysis of covariance, partial correlation, and multivariable logistic regression, adjusting for confounders. Results: The mean estimated daily salt, Na, and K intake were 9.00 g, 2.95 g, and 1.03 g, respectively. Marked regional disparities were observed: pastoral residents had the highest salt (12.19 g) and Na (3.36 g) intake, the lowest K intake (0.88 g), and the highest prevalence of hypertension (67.6%, SBP more than 130 or DBP more than 80 mmHg). Their Na/K ratio was significantly elevated (7.27). Only 6.7% of pastoral participants met the recommended salt intake (<6 g/day), compared to 19.9% in agricultural and 44.0% in urban areas. A positive salt intake-hypertension association was identified in rural (agricultural and pastoral) regions (OR for highest tertile: 2.08, 95% CI: 1.04–4.13), but not in the urban region. Na intake and Na/K ratio were positively correlated with systolic BP, whereas K intake was inversely correlated with pulse pressure. Conclusions: A significant sodium-potassium imbalance, strongly linked to hypertension, exists in rural Xinjiang, particularly in pastoral communities. Public health strategies prioritizing salt reduction and increased potassium consumption are critically needed in these regions, with potential relevance for similar settings across Central Asia.
Pan et al. (Fri,) studied this question.