Comparative study on the dietary behaviour and serum/urine electrolyte levels of hypertensive males in thonegwa township

ABSTRACT

This study was a cross-sectional, hospital based, comparative study. It was conducted on 31 pairs of the hypertensive and apparently health males between 25-59 years. At the time of hospital admission, dietary bahaviour was interviewed by menas of the structured questionnaires. The blood pressure was measured at the time of admission and discharge. Serum sodium and potassium levels and urinary excretion of them were also measured. Family history of hypertension was strongly associated with the hypertensives (P<0.05). Hypertensive subjects consumed palm oil two times (odd ratio=2.2) more than normotensive subjects. A significant association of hypertension and daily consumption of soda rich snacks was found in the cases (p<0.05). The mean serum sodium level of the cases was significantly higer than that of the controls (P<0.03) but 24 hour urinary sodium excretion of them was not significantly lower. Thus, increased salt consumption with impaired renal handling of sodium homeostasis would be responsible for higher prevalence of hypertension in Thonegwa Township.