Salt Substitution May Reduce Recurrent Stroke and Death

A prespecified subgroup analysis of a Chinese randomized clinical trial suggested that salt substitution significantly reduced the risks of stroke recurrence and death. The analysis included 15 249 patients with stroke (mean age, 64.1 years; female 45.9%; male 54.1%) from an open-label, cluster randomized clinical trial. Patients were assigned to take either a salt substitute, consisting of 75% sodium chloride and 25% potassium chloride by mass, or regular salt. Over a median follow-up of 61.2 months, the mean difference in systolic blood pressure was −2.05 mm Hg. A total of 2735 recurrent stroke events (691 fatal and 2044 nonfatal) and 3242 deaths were recorded. Recurrent stroke was significantly lower in the salt substitute vs regular salt group (rate ratio [RR], 0.86), with larger effects on hemorrhagic stroke (relative reduction, 30%). Death rates were also significantly lower (RR, 0.88), with larger effects on stroke-related deaths (relative reduction 21%). There was no significant difference in hyperkalemia (RR, 1.01). The results indicated that the salt substitution was safe, and effective of reducing risks of stroke recurrence and death. Source: https://jamanetwork.com/