Salt intake, knowledge of salt intake, and blood pressure control in Chinese hypertensive patients

•We conducted a cross-sectional study involving 2,502 hypertensive patients.•We found a high salt intake and low blood pressure control rate among patients.•Patients who consumed less than 6 g/d of salt had a higher control rate.•Mass education of a low-salt diet need be popularized continuously.

A cross–sectional study involving 2502 subjects was conducted to evaluate salt intake, knowledge of salt intake, and blood pressure control in hypertensive patients. The blood pressure control rate was 33.5% among the hypertensive patients. Of the patients, 69.9% had salt intake higher than 6 g/d. Overall 35.0% knew the recommended salt intake, and 94.9% knew that “excess salt intake can result in hypertension.” Altogether, 85.8% of patients had received health education related to a low–salt diet at some time. Patients who consumed less than 6 g/d of salt had a higher control rate than those who consumed more than 6 g/d (48.7% vs. 27.0%; χ2 = 111.0; P < .001). Patients with knowledge of the recommended salt intake had a higher control rate than those without (45.8% vs. 26.9%; χ2 = 91.3; P < .001). Our findings suggest a high salt intake and low blood pressure control rate among Chinese hypertensive patients. Knowledge of recommended salt intake is inappropriate for patients with education of a low–salt diet.