Hypertensives' Knowledge About High-Sodium Foods and Their Behavior

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Cardiology
• Nutrition Science

Background:

• Systemic arterial hypertension (SAH) affects approximately 30% of Brazil's population.
• SAH caused 9.4 million deaths globally in 2010.
• A healthy diet is crucial for blood pressure control.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess knowledge and practices of hypertensive patients regarding high-sodium foods.
• To evaluate the relationship between dietary habits and SAH management in a public clinic setting.

Main Methods:

• A questionnaire was administered to 221 hypertensive patients.
• Data collected included sociodemographics, dietary patterns, food consumption frequency, and disease knowledge.
• Patients' understanding of high-sodium foods and SAH was assessed.

Main Results:

• 75.6% of participants had high blood pressure; 11.3% had diabetes mellitus.
• 62% used ready-to-use seasonings, but 94.1% did not add extra salt to meals.
• Knowledge about high-sodium foods and SAH was limited, with few patients achieving high scores on assessments.

Conclusions:

• Hypertensive patients demonstrated insufficient knowledge regarding SAH prevention and high-sodium foods.
• There is a need for enhanced educational interventions tailored to this population.
• Improved patient education can support better dietary practices and SAH control.