Key result
Higher urinary sodium links to ~1.8 mm Hg higher SBP per 50-mmol/d, especially in hypertensives.
Why the study?
Hypertension guidelines generally recommend uniform sodium restriction, but the determinants of salt sensitivity remain incompletely quantified.
Does sodium reduction reduce systolic blood pressure differently across clinical strata in the general population?
Population
16 443 participants across 160 studies (255 estimates)
Comparison
Blood pressure response standardized per 50-mmol/d sodium difference across clinical strata
Design
Systematic review and random-effects metaregression
Authors
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Individualized sodium targets may aid select patients; leaves open precise CV benefit quantification across strata.
Meta-Analysis (n=16,443)
Does sodium reduction reduce systolic blood pressure differently across clinical strata in the general population?
Mean Difference: 1.76 (95% CI 1.54–1.98)
Salt sensitivity varies significantly by age, baseline SBP, and BMI, suggesting that targeted sodium restriction may be more effective in older, hypertensive, and overweight individuals compared to uniform recommendations.
Chen et al. (2026) conducted a meta-analysis in Hypertension and salt sensitivity (n=16,443). Higher urinary sodium excretion vs. Lower urinary sodium excretion was evaluated on Systolic blood pressure (SBP) difference per 50-mmol/d higher urinary sodium excretion (MD 1.76 mm Hg, 95% CI 1.54-1.98). Each 50-mmol/d higher urinary sodium excretion was associated with a 1.76-mm Hg higher systolic blood pressure (95% CI, 1.54-1.98), with greater sensitivity in older and hypertensive individuals.
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