Objective: High blood pressure (BP) and consequential cardiovascular complications remain the leading cause of death in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Aim of this study is to link BP variations during HD with a 1 year mortality. Design and method: We conducted a cohort study in tertiary reference dialysis center. Patients undergoing HD were enrolled. Systolic, diastolic and mean arterial BP were measured before, every hour during and after HD procedure. These patients were observed for 12 months and mortality rate was evaluated. Mean values of measurements were compared across the groups. Furthermore, these measurements were included in univariate and multivariate regression analysis, determining their potency to predict 1 year mortality. Results: Study enrolled 99 patients. Mean age of patients was 58.7 ± 14.4 years, more than a half of them were men 51 (51.5%) with median time on HD for 4,5 [2,0–8,5] years. Mortality rate was 15.2 % (n = 15). All of the BP measurements were significantly lower in deceased group, except of BP before HD. (Table 1). Univariate regression analysis revealed that all of these pressures were linked to 1 year mortality, however, after application of stepwise forward selection model in multivariate analysis the most potent predictor was eluded to be MAP of the 1st HD hour (OR CI95% p), tripling the risk of mortality per every decrease of 10mmHg. However, the difference in precipitated risk of mortality for 2nd h, 3rd h and post HD MAP was minimal. Conclusions: One year mortality in HD patients is substantial. Blood pressure during and post HD is a more potent predictor of mortality than a blood pressure measured before the procedure. Further studies should investigate the application of intradialytic BP for the timely intervention.

Hypertension is a leading risk factor for cardiovascular events and death. A reduction in salt intake is among the most cost-effective strategies to reduce blood pressure and the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Increasing potassium lowers blood pressure and is associated with lower cardiovascular risk. Adequate iodine intake is important to prevent iodine deficiency disorders. Salt iodization is a key strategy to prevent such deficiency. In Lithuania, no surveys have been performed to directly assess sodium, potassium and iodine consumption. The aim of the present study was to measure sodium, potassium and iodine intake in a randomly selected adult Lithuanian adult population using 24 h urine collections, and to assess knowledge, attitudes and behavior towards salt consumption. Salt and potassium intakes were estimated in 888 randomly selected participants by 24 h urine sodium and potassium excretion and 679 individuals provided suitable 24 h urine samples for the analysis of iodine excretion. Average salt intake was 10.0 (SD 5.3) g/24 h and average potassium intake was 3.3 (SD 1.3) g/24 h. Only 12.5% of participants consumed less than 5 g/24 h of salt. The median value of urinary iodine concentration (UIC) was 95.5 μg/L. Our study showed that average salt intake is twice as high as the maximum level recommended by the World Health Organization while potassium and iodine intakes in Lithuania are below the recommended levels.

Objective: High salt intake is associated with increased arterial blood pressure, high risk of other preventable cardiovascular diseases, reduced life expectancy and higher mortality. WHO and the World Hypertension League strongly recommend to take less than 2000 mg of sodium (or less than 5 g of salt) per day1. However, in many countries the average daily intake of sodium still remains about 4000 mg (10 g of salt). Until now there were no investigations in Lithuania for evaluating sodium (and salt) intake in the population based on reliable methods. Aim of the study is to perform a pilot study and evaluate intake of sodium by 24-hour urinary sodium excretion and correlations with arterial blood pressure in Lithuanian population. Design and method: A study of randomly selected 237 healthy individuals of age 18–69 years old was performed. Each participant collected 24-hour urine samples and the blood pressure was measured 3 times. 15 subjects were excluded due to incomplete urine collection or incomplete data. 222 subjects were included in a statistical analysis. Results: An average salt intake was calculated using 24-hour urinary sodium excretion. The result was – 8,81 g/d [2,15; 25,54] of salt. 85% of subjects exceeded the recommended salt consumption value. Results varied between groups: mean salt consumption in males 10,77 (±4,79)g/d vs. females 7,46 (±3,41)g/d (p < 0,001); in age groups < 45 years old 8,57 (±3,9)g/l vs. > 45 years old 9,08 (±4,69)g/d (p > 0,05). A quartile classification revealed that individuals with higher salt consumption had significantly higher systolic arterial blood pressure (p = 0,02). Conclusions: A pilot study of 24-hour urinary sodium excretion revealed higher than recommended salt intake in Lithuania. Males use more salt. Higher salt intake correlates with higher blood pressure. The study will be continued to collect more detailed assessment of the population's sodium status and to formulate a public health policy strategy.

High sodium intake is a leading dietary risk factor for mortality, especially in China, Japan, and Thailand. Salt reduction is imperative in East and Southeast Asia. The use of umami (glutamate) can effectively decrease salt intake while maintaining food palatability. However, it is unclear whether different eating habits and lifestyles among various nationalities influence the effect of glutamate. This study compared the effects of monosodium glutamate (MSG) on the saltiness and palatability of low-salt solutions among students from East and Southeast Asia.Design and method: A total of 77 female students, stratified into four groups by nationality (from Japan [N = 28], China [N = 17], South Korea [N = 15], and Southeast Asia [Vietnam, Malaysia, and Thailand, N = 17]), tasted 0.3, 0.6, and 0.9% NaCl solutions with or without 0.3% MSG to evaluate saltiness and palatability. Saltiness and palatability were assessed using a visual analog scale. Then, the participants were asked for their height (cm), weight (kg), length of stay in Japan (for international students only), and degree of sodium intake. We analyzed the within-group and intergroup differences in ratings of saltiness and palatability.Results: Among the 77 participants (mean age of 21.6 years), only the 0.3% NaCl solution with MSG showed significantly higher saltiness and palatability ratings than those without MSG. The 0.6%, and 0.9% NaCl solutions with MSG showed significantly higher palatability ratings than solutions without MSG. The 0.6% NaCl solution with MSG had the highest palatability rating of the six solutions. The saltiness ratings for each NaCl solution with or without MSG differed significantly by their nationality (p < 0.05), except for the 0.9% NaCl solution without MSG. The saltiness rating was lowest in the Southeast Asian group. Participants in the Japan, China, and Southeast Asia groups rated the palatability of 0.3% NaCl solution as significantly higher with MSG than without MSG (all p < 0.05). In this regard, a higher but non-significant trend was noted in the South Korean group (p = 0.074). There was no intergroup difference in palatability in the six solutions (p > 0.05). Conclusions:Adding an appropriate amount of umami ingredients improved the palatability of low-salt solutions, regardless of the difference in salty taste rating by their nationality. It was clarified that the utilization of umami is effective for salt reduction in East and Southeast Asia, where excessive salt intake is a major issue.

In 2017, Lithuania joined the global May Measurement Month (MMM) campaign which aims at raising awareness of raised blood pressure worldwide. Presented here are the data arising from the 2017, 2018, and 2019 campaigns. An opportunistic cross-sectional survey of individuals aged ≥18 years was carried out in Lithuania in 2017, 2018, and 2019. Two thousand nine hundred and nineteen participants were recruited in the MMM campaigns in response to the media engagement and interactions with the study team. The mean age of participants was 46.1 years (SD 16.3) years, 58.9% were females. Blood pressures were measured using electronic devices provided by Omron according to the MMM protocol. Of the 2919 screened participants, 1308 (44.8%) had hypertension. Of all hypertensive participants, the awareness rate, the treatment rate, and the control rates (&lt;140/90 mmHg) were 79.5%, 41.0%, and 14.2%, respectively. Of those on antihypertensive medication, the control rate was 34.8%. The high percentage of participants with hypertension was either untreated (59.0%) or treated but uncontrolled (65.2%) suggests the usefulness of such screening programmes to improve awareness of hypertension control in Lithuania.