Correlates of left ventricular mass in a population sample aged 36 to 37 years. Focus on lifestyle and salt intake.

Abstract

Body weight, blood pressure, stroke volume, sodium intake, physical activity, and hematocrit are independent predictors of LV mass among unselected persons aged 36 to 37 years. The synergistic interaction of dietary salt with blood pressure suggests that high sodium intake may sensitize the heart to the hypertrophic stimulus of pressure load. Prospective studies are needed to confirm these cross-sectional associations.