Investigation of dietary sodium intake and its direct correlation with blood pressure in an urban adult population

High dietary sodium intake remains a pivotal yet understudied driver of hypertension in rapidly urbanizing regions like Uzbekistan, where traditional salty foods meet modern processed diets. This cross-sectional study investigated the direct correlation between sodium consumption and blood pressure among 412 urban adults aged 25-65 in Tashkent from March to August 2025. We measured 24-hour urinary sodium excretion (gold standard for intake), alongside clinic blood pressure via standardized Omron devices, adjusting for confounders like age, BMI, smoking, and activity in multivariable regressions. Results showed a mean sodium intake of 5.7 g/day far exceeding WHO limits with each gram linking to 1.9 mmHg higher systolic (95% CI: 1.2-2.6, p<0.001) and 1.4 mmHg diastolic rises (95% CI: 0.9-1.9, p<0.001) post-adjustment. Hypertension prevalence surged from 20% in low-sodium tertiles to 71.5% in high ones (OR 6.4, 95% CI: 3.5-11.8), strongest among overweight participants (p-interaction=0.04). These dose-response gradients affirm sodium's independent role, mirroring global trials like DASH but tailored to Central Asian contexts. Findings highlight urgent needs for targeted interventions reformulating staples and awareness campaigns to stem urban hypertension epidemics, potentially averting substantial cardiovascular burdens in Uzbekistan.