Relationship of 24-h urinary sodium excretion with blood pressure, arterial distensibility, and urine albumin in Chinese hypertensive patients

The aim was to determine the relationship of salt intake with blood pressure, arterial distensibility, and microalbuminuria in Chinese hypertensive patients. We recruited 341 hypertensive patients who were not on antihypertensive treatment. Blood pressure, 24-h urinary sodium, microalbuminuria, and brachial–ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) were measured in these patients. The patients were divided into three groups based on the 24-h urinary sodium excretion: Group A, low urinary sodium excretion (<100 mmol/24 h); Group B, medium urinary sodium excretion (≥100 and<200 mmol/24 h); and Group C, high urinary sodium excretion (≥200 mmol/24 h). Multivariate linear regression was used to analyse the relationship of 24-h urinary sodium excretion with blood pressure, arterial distensibility, and urine albumin. The 24-h urinary sodium excretion levels in Groups A, B, and C were 78.6 ± 17.9, 146.7 ± 26.9, and 254.7 ± 41.8 mmol/24 h, respectively. The baPWV was significantly higher in Group C than in Group A (1753.5 ± 303.8 vs. 1604.9 ± 339.9 cm/s, P = 0.028). In addition, blood pressure and microalbuminuria levels were significantly higher in Group C than in Group A (P < 0.001 and P = 0.008, respectively). Multivariate regression analysis revealed that 24-h urinary sodium excretion was associated with baPWV (P = 0.021) and microalbuminuria (P = 0.027). High salt intake correlated with an increase in blood pressure and urine albumin and a decrease in arterial distensibility in Chinese hypertensive patients.