Scientific Sessions
  • #AHA22
  • Virtual Experience Access
  • Sessions Posters
  • Late-Breaking Science
  • Daily Coverage
  • Industry Highlights
  • Featured Exhibitors
  • Program
  • Previews
Topics
  • Late-Breaking Science
  • Daily Coverage
  • Industry Highlights
  • Featured Exhibitors
  • Program
  • Previews
Resources
  • #AHA22
  • Virtual Experience Access
  • Sessions Posters
User Tools
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Accessibility Statement
Twitter iconFacebook iconInstagram iconYouTube iconPinterest iconLinkedIn icon
Nov 13th, 2020

New, simpler test may better detect salt sensitivity


Getty Images 1262616145

A new test to determine salt sensitivity will make it easier to identify people who are at risk for cardiovascular disease, said a co-moderator in Sunday’s “Salt-Sensitive Hypertension: What Is New?” session.

“Being salt sensitive causes a person to be approximately 60% more likely to  die from cardiovascular disease at a younger age, so being able to assess one’s Personal Salt Index (daily safe salt intake) is a promising advancement to decrease mortality from cardiovascular disease,” said Robin A. Felder, PhD, co-moderator of the session at 10:30-11:30 a.m. CST.

Traditional testing for salt sensitivity is expensive and tedious, said Dr. Felder, professor of pathology and associate director of clinical chemistry and toxicology at the University of Virginia School of Medicine in Charlottesville. It involves placing a patient on a highly controlled salt diet for two weeks with frequent measurements of blood pressure and testing renal function.

The new test, which examines the function of living renal cells excreted in the urine, can be performed on a single urine specimen. Currently, prospective studies are funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

“If those prospective studies look promising, we hope to be able to apply this evidence for use with  patients in our university clinics,” said Dr. Felder, who will co-moderate the session with Kathryn L. Sandberg, PhD, professor and vice chair for research in the Department of Medicine at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. “

Widespread testing is especially critical for people who may be salt sensitive — but are not hypertensive and not aware of their increased risk for cardiovascular disease.

As an estimate “Eighteen percent of Americans with normal blood pressure may be  salt sensitive,” Dr. Felder said. “Once one knows their Personal Salt Index  while having a normal blood pressure, then hypertensive medications may be unnecessary, unless they are both salt sensitive and become hypertensive.”

Making patients aware of their Personal Salt Index  could be an important primary preventative measure to  significantly impact decreasing  cardiovascular disease and increasing  the possibility of a longer, healthier life..

“A little appreciated group of salt-sensitive individuals are inverse salt sensitive,” Dr. Felder said. “Approximately 15% of Americans are inverse salt sensitive and appear to have essential hypertension  because low-salt diets actually raise their blood pressure.” 

The ability to identify inverse salt sensitivity  may reduce the likelihood that medications for lowering blood pressure are prescribed for those who should instead consume increasing amounts of daily salt until their blood pressure is within recommended guidelines

 “All Americans may one day  know their degree of salt sensitivity so they can consume the daily amount that would reduce or eliminate the chance of salt induced cardiovascular disease,” he said.

 


Interesting Stories
Modern Wearable Defibrillation
Sponsored by Kestra Medical Technologies
Modern Wearable Defibrillation
New Double Take Videos from NEJM
Sponsored by NEJM Group
New Double Take Videos from NEJM
Data-driven precision medicine
Sponsored by Tempus
Data-driven precision medicine
MiCare Path joins the AHA CHTI and will integrate AHA science-based
Sponsored by MiCare Path
MiCare Path joins the AHA CHTI and will integrate AHA science-based
More Content
Manesh Patel
AHA22
#AHA 22 Closing Session: That’s a wrap
Nov 9th, 2022
Getty Images 1388100332
AHA22
Congratulations to the winners of the Wellness Challenge and Scavenger Hunt
Nov 8th, 2022
puppy snugglers
AHA22
Special Recognition to the Hinsdale Humane Society
Nov 8th, 2022
audience shot
AHA22
Trial results shed light on tool for assessing VTE risk, routine anticoagulation for non-hospitalized COVID patients, and clinical outcomes of open vs. endovascular surgery for advanced PAD
Nov 8th, 2022
audience shot
AHA22
Bivalirudin superior to unfractionated heparin in primary PCI following STEMI
Nov 8th, 2022
Panelists of the Mindful Disruption panel
Late-Breaking Science
Overcoming health disparities, health care advocates and mindfulness can better manage BP and CVD
Nov 7th, 2022
Medtech
AHA22
Medtech is getting smarter — and so is patient care
Nov 7th, 2022
med tech checking fluids in a hospital
AHA22
New digital hub offers professional education to complement lifelong learning
Nov 7th, 2022
Aha22 Sm 2334
AHA22
Trial results report on benefits of radial artery for CABG, use of prophylactic methylprednisolone and ECMO for patients in cardiogenic shock
Nov 7th, 2022
runner montage
AHA22
And the Health Tech Competition winner is…
Nov 7th, 2022
Aha Ss22 Days123 Pg1
AHA22
Read all about it
Nov 7th, 2022
Screen Shot 2022 11 06 At 10 45 03 Am
AHA22
Science, medicine must be a ‘relentless force’ in fighting misinformation
Nov 6th, 2022