PERSPECTIVE – The Growing Global Benefits of Limiting Salt Intake: an urgent call from the World Hypertension League for more effective policy and public health initiatives

Fig. 1. World population and changes over time in the world population by age group. The world population by age group is shown from 1990 to 2080 (left side). Between 2020 and 2080, the population 25 years of age and older is projected to increase by more than 4 billion. The population <25 years old is projected to decline slightly (right side), which reflects declining birth rates. Data source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024). https://population.un.org/wpp/Graphs/DemographicProfiles/Line/900.

Fig. 2. Death rates from cardiovascular diseases by age group. Death rates from stroke, ischemic heart disease, other vascular diseases, and total cardiovascular disease approximately triple every ten years in adults from the fifth through ninth decades [31].

Fig. 3. Projections for reducing sodium consumption when non-discretionary intake is high. Assuming roughly 3100 mg salt is added to food processed and prepared outside the home each day, a 10% annual reduction for 8 years would lower non-discretionary intake from 3100 to ~1334 mg and total sodium intake from 4300 to 2534 mg daily. If discretionary sodium intake were also reduced 7% per year (orange line), then total sodium intake would decline to ~2180 mg daily.

Fig. 4. Projections for reducing sodium consumption when discretionary intake is high. The estimate assumes 3100 mg sodium/d is added in food preparation and seasoning at home. Discretionary would fall 5% annually by replacing 20% of added salt with 75% NaCl: 25% KCl each year for 8 years. If non-discretionary sodium also declines 10% annually, then total sodium intake would fall from 4300 to 2800 mg daily. Potassium intake would rise ~1800 mg/d.