Relationship of blood pressure to sodium excretion in a population survey

1. Blood pressure, height, weight and 24 h urinary output of sodium, potassium and creatinine were measured in over 500 adults of each sex during a health survey of the population of a small town. 2. Both systolic and diastolic pressure were significantly related to Quetelet's index (weight/height2) and heart rate. 3. There was no significant relationship between blood pressure and output of sodium or potassium, sodium/potassium ratio or sodium/creatinine ratio.