Salt Substitution and Recurrent Stroke and Death A Randomized Clinical Trial

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamacardiology/fullarticle/2829790?guestAccessKey=a22c6853-8162-4751-b964-dbab05678210&utm_term=020525&utm_campaign=ftm_links&utm_medium=referral&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--PQ3nyB-c0PujwLzyHowYyZF5rpNxe6WXzeT4bdZ0rXLcFSk_vZ71wPiVuM0Z6qE91aB5HmzySlIcCY1eGfjWrnkMsTA&_hsmi=345985342&utm_content=tfl&utm_source=for_the_media Salt substitutes as a way to lower risk of death, stroke Scientists have long understood that using salt substitutes — which replace some of the sodium chloride with potassium chloride — can help lower one’s blood pressure. A few years ago, for the first time, a randomized controlled trial of more than 20,000 people demonstrated a direct association between use of the substitutes and a lowered risk of stroke. Now, a subgroup analysis from that study, published yesterday in JAMA Cardiology, found that among people who have already had a stroke, using salt substitutes was associated with a significantly reduced risk of having another stroke, and of death. The subgroup analysis followed more than 15,000 people with a history of stroke for an average of five years. In particular, those in the salt substitute group had a 30% relative reduction of hemorrhagic stroke and 21% relative reduction of stroke-related deaths compared to those who used regular salt. The results show that if scaled up, salt substitutes could be a simple and effective intervention around the world, the authors wrote.