Introduction: Salt intake increases fluid intake and, consequently, blood pressure (BP) and interdialytic weight gain (IDWG), known as morbi-mortality risk factors for hemodialysis (HD) patients.
Objective: Evaluate salt intake and food sources, as well as its relationship with demographics, clinical and nutritional parameters.
Methods: Cross-sectional study with 109 patients (66% women, age = 49.0 ± 12.6 years) from five dialysis centers. For total salt intake, a validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and the use of discretionary salt were estimated. The relationship of salt intake with many factors was studied.
Results: Salt intake was high (8.6 ± 5.4 g/day) and 72% came from discretionary salt. Only literacy was significantly correlated total salt intake (r = -0.29, p < 0.01) and discretionary salt (r = -0.30, p < 0.01). With FFQ food items, there was a positive correlation with the %IDWG (r = 0.26, p < 0.01) and negative with age (r = -0.35, p < 0.001). Direct relationship between salt intake with %IDWG was found in the anuric subgroup (r = 0.26, p < 0.05) and with medium BP in those with no prescription of hypotensive drugs (r = 0.35, p < 0.05).
Conclusion: Salt intake was high mainly due to discretionary salt. It was associated with education and adversely affected %IDWG in anuric patients and medium BP in those not taking hypotensive drugs.