Background: Dietary salt restriction is believed to be a mainstay in the management of patients with heart failure. However, the effect of salt intake on heart failure has not been well evaluated in outpatient medical practice.
Aims: The aim of the present study was to assess the hypothesis that B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) level, as an objective marker of heart failure, is associated with salt intake in patients with heart failure.
Methods: One hundred and thirteen consecutive patients with mild compensated heart failure (77 ± 10 years old, 51 female) were included. We estimated dietary salt intake by the concentration of sodium and creatinine in spot urine. We measured BNP at the time of urine sampling and assessed the relationship between the % changes in BNP levels (%ΔBNP) and the changes in the estimated daily salt excretion (ΔNaCl) during the follow-up period.
Results: The baseline median BNP level was 150 (interquartile range: 83-263) pg/mL and the estimated daily salt excretion was 162 ± 45 mmol/day. There was a positive correlation between %ΔBNP and ΔNaCl (r = 0.61, P < 0.01). Multiple regression analysis revealed that %ΔBNP was associated with ΔNaCl (P < 0.01), but not with changes in systolic blood pressure and bodyweight.
Conclusions: Changes in BNP levels were associated with changes in the estimated daily salt excretion in outpatients with compensated heart failure. Salt restriction may be beneficial for the management of patients with heart failure.
© 2012 The Authors; Internal Medicine Journal © 2012 Royal Australasian College of Physicians.