Salt Restriction in Heart Failure may not Impact Morbidity or Mortality, reveals research
Canada: Strict sodium intake-regardless of any fluid intake restrictions-is unlikely to provide clinical benefits for patients with heart failure, a recent study has revealed. The findings were published online in the European Journal of Clinical Investigation on June 26, 2024.
"Mortality and morbidity are not reduced with sodium restriction in heart failure patients, although some symptomatic improvement may be expected. However, moderate daily intake of sodium (3.0-4.5 g) may improve the functional status and quality of life of these patients," Paolo Raggi, Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, wrote in his narrative review.
The review of studies indicated that sodium intake should only be moderately restricted, as "patients are more likely to adhere to guidelines that are not overly strict, and there is no evidence that severe sodium restriction improves survival or reduces hospital admissions."
For decades, standard practice has advocated for reduced sodium intake in patients with heart failure based on the rationale that neurohumoral activation leads to fluid retention. However, until recently, there had been no large randomized clinical trials to support this recommendation. Some observational studies and meta-analyses even indicated that strict sodium restriction might be associated with worse outcomes in heart failure patients.
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