Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2016 Mar 2:10:233-41.
doi: 10.2147/PPA.S95528. eCollection 2016.

The association between cognitive function and objective adherence to dietary sodium guidelines in patients with heart failure

Mary A Dolansky  1 , Julie T Schaefer  2 , Misty Aw Hawkins  3 , John Gunstad  2 , Anup Basuray  4 , Joseph D Redle  5 , James C Fang  6 , Richard A Josephson  7 , Shirley M Moore  1 , Joel W Hughes  2
Affiliations

The association between cognitive function and objective adherence to dietary sodium guidelines in patients with heart failure

Mary A Dolansky et al. Patient Prefer Adherence. .

Abstract

Background: Although cognitive impairment is common in heart failure (HF) patients, its effects on sodium adherence recommendations are unknown.

Purpose: Our aim is to examine if cognitive function is associated with patient sodium adherence.

Methods: Sodium collection/excretion and cognitive function were assessed for 339 HF patients over a 5-8-week period. Neuropsychological testing was performed at baseline (Visit 1), whereas two 24-hour urine samples were collected within 7 weeks postbaseline. The ability to collect two 24-hour urine samples and the estimation of sodium excretion levels from these samples were used to estimate sodium adherence recommendations.

Results: Nearly half (47%) of the study participants (n=159) were unable to give two valid 24-hour urine samples. Participants who were unable to adhere to two valid 24-hour urine samples had significantly poorer attention and global cognition tests (P<0.044), with a trend for poorer executive function (P=0.064). Among those with valid samples, urine sodium level was not associated with global cognitive function, attention, executive function, or memory after adjusting for covariates. Female sex was associated with lower sodium excretion (all P<0.01); individuals with knowledge of sodium guidelines had less intake of sodium, resulting in excretion of less sodium (all P≤0.03). Conversely, higher socioeconomic status (SES) and body mass index (BMI) were associated with greater sodium (all P≤0.02 and P≤0.01).

Conclusion: Adherence to urine sodium collection was poor, especially among those with poorer cognitive function. Sodium consumption exceeded recommended amounts and was unrelated to cognitive function. Interventions for improving sodium adherence should focus on at-risk groups (high SES and BMI) and at improving knowledge of recommended salt intake.

Keywords: attention; cardiac; executive function; memory; salt intake; urine collection.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Mozaffarian D, Benjamin EJ, Go AS, et al. Heart disease and stroke statistics – 2015 update: a report from the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2015;131(4):e29–e322. - PubMed
    1. Bennett SJ, Oldridge NB, Eckert GJ, et al. Comparison of quality of life measures in heart failure. Nurs Res. 2003;52(4):207–216. - PubMed
    1. Seo Y, Roberts BL, Piña I, Dolansky M. Predictors of motor tasks essential for daily activities among persons with heart failure. J Card Fail. 2008;14(4):296–302. - PubMed
    1. Pressler SJ, Subramanian U, Kareken D, et al. Cognitive deficits in chronic heart failure. Nurs Res. 2010;59(2):127. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Qiu C, Winblad B, Marengoni A, Klarin I, Fastbom J, Fratiglioni L. Heart failure and risk of dementia and Alzheimer disease: a population-based cohort study. Arch Intern Med. 2006;166(9):1003. - PubMed