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Joint association of urinary sodium and potassium excretion with cardiovascular events and mortality: prospective cohort study

Martin O’Donnell, A. Mente, S. Rangarajan, M. McQueen, N. O'leary, Lu Yin, Xiao-Yun Liu, S. Swaminathan et al.

British medical journal, 2019

103 participants · 114 citations

Abstract

Abstract Objective To evaluate the joint association of sodium and potassium urinary excretion (as surrogate measures of intake) with cardiovascular events and mortality, in the context of current World Health Organization recommendations for daily intake (3.5 g potassium) in adults. Design International prospective cohort study. Setting 18 high, middle, and low income countries, sampled from urban and rural communities. Participants 103 570 people who provided morning fasting urine samples. Main outcome measures Association of estimated 24 hour urinary sodium and potassium excretion (surrogates for intake) with all cause mortality and major cardiovascular events, using multivariable Cox regression. A six category variable for joint sodium and potassium was generated: sodium excretion (low (5 g/day) sodium intakes) by potassium excretion (greater/equal or less than median 2.1 g/day). Results Mean estimated sodium and potassium urinary excretion were 4.93 g/day and 2.12 g/day, respectively. After a median follow-up of 8.2 years, 7884 (6.1%) participants had died or experienced a major cardiovascular event. Increasing urinary sodium excretion was positively associated with increasing potassium excretion (unadjusted r=0.34), and only 0.002% had a concomitant urinary excretion of 3.5 g/day of potassium. A J-shaped association was observed of sodium excretion and inverse association of potassium excretion with death and cardiovascular events. For joint sodium and potassium…

How strong is the evidence?

Evidence Hub reads this as a cohort study, done in people. Its evidence level is 3 of 5 (Moderate · trial / cohort / secondary analysis). Trials without a large randomized design, cohorts and secondary analyses give moderate evidence. Reported size: 103 participants or records.

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