Association between salt sensitivity of blood pressure and the risk of hypertension in a Chinese Tibetan population

Epidemiological studies have confirmed salt sensitivity as a crucial risk factor for the development of hypertension. However, few studies have investigated the association between salt sensitivity of blood pressure (SSBP) and hypertension in Chinese Tibetan population. Therefore, we conducted a cross‐sectional study based on a Tibetan population to evaluate the association between SSBP and the risk of hypertension. Seven hundred and eighty‐four participants with hypertension and 645 participants without hypertension were included from five villages in Tibetan Autonomous Region of Gannan during 2013–2014. The assessment of salt sensitivity (SS) and non‐salt sensitivity (NSS) was performed according to mean arterial pressure (MAP) changes by the modified Sullivan's acute oral saline load and diuresis shrinkage test (MSAOSL‐DST). Logistic regression models and restricted cubic models were used to examine the association between SSBP and hypertension. There were 554 (70.5%) salt‐sensitive participants with hypertension and 412 (63.9%) salt‐sensitive participants without hypertension in this study. Compared with individuals with NSS, individuals with SS had a significantly increased risk of hypertension, and the multiple‐adjusted odds ratios were 2.582 with 95% confidence interval of 1.357–4.912. Furthermore, a significant linear trend was found between MAP changes and hypertension. Subgroup analyses showed significant and stronger associations between SSBP and the risk of hypertension in the older (age ≥ 55 years old), males and participants who took exercise less than 1 time per week. Our results suggest that SS is associated with an increased risk of hypertension in Tibetan population, indicating a need for clinicians dealing with SSBP to decrease the risk of hypertension.