Blood pressure and cardiovascular risk in relation to birth weight and urinary sodium: an individual-participant meta-analysis of European family-based population studies

Background: Although the relation of salt intake with blood pressure (BP) is linear, it is U–shaped for mortality and cardiovascular disease (CVD). This individual-participant meta-analysis explored whether the relation of hypertension, death or CVD with 24-h urinary sodium excretion (UVNA) or sodium-to-potassium (UNAK) ratio was modified by birth weight. Methods: Families were randomly enrolled in the Flemish Study on Genes, Environment and Health Outcomes (1985–2004) and the European Project on Genes in Hypertension (1999–2001). Categories of birth weight, UVNA and UNAK (≤2500, >2500–4000... Mehr ...