Discretionary salt intake (habitual) of male and female Nigerian hyper
tensive patients presenting in hospital was assessed and this was corr
elated with their blood pressure. Their salt intake was assessed by qu
estionnaires and direct interview following detailed explanation. They
were categorised into low, moderate and high salt intake groups accor
ding to a standard criterion. The 114 hypertensive patients (52 males;
62 females) were aged 26-80 years (mean 52.2+/-1.8 (S.E.M.) males; 53
.7+/-1.7 females, P=0.5). Those on medication were generally poorly co
mpliant with uncontrolled blood pressure at presentation. Fifty percen
t belonged to the moderate salt intake group. No female reported high
salt intake. In the males, the mean DBP in the high salt intake group
was significantly higher than in the moderate and low intake groups (1
23.5+/-4.4, 108.3+/-3.9 and 99.3+/-7.7 mmHg; P<0.02 and P<0.009, respe
ctively). There was no significant difference between the mean DBP of
the low and moderate salt intake groups (P>0.1). The SEP is also consi
stently higher from the low to the high salt intake groups (162.1+/-15
.5, 179.3+/-7.4 and 180.8+/-7.6 mmHg, respectively), although the diff
erence is not statistically significant (P>0.1). The BMI did not diffe
r between the salt groups (P>0.5) and there was no correlation between
BMI and blood pressure (P>0.05). The study suggests that the higher t
he salt intake, the higher the blood pressure, particularly the diasto
lic, in male hypertensive patients. The picture in the female is uncle
ar, since none reported a high salt intake. Reduced salt intake might,
therefore, be beneficial in black hypertensive patients, in the setti
ng of common presentation at the stage of cardiac decompensation. (C)
1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.