The Relationship between Sodium Intake and Nutritional Status with Blood Pressure among High School Adolescents in Maros Regency, Indonesia

Abstract

Hypertension is a non-communicable disease whose prevalence continues to increase, including in adolescents. Excessive sodium consumption and abnormal nutritional status play a role in increasing blood pressure. Adolescents tend to consume foods high in sodium which can increase the risk of hypertension. To determine the relationship between sodium intake and nutritional status with hypertension in high school adolescents in Turikale District, Maros Regency. This study used a cross-sectional design with 86 respondents selected using a multistage cluster random sampling method. Sodium intake was measured using a 2 × 24-hour food recall and Semi-FFQ. Nutritional status was determined based on BMI/A, while blood pressure was measured using an omicron digital sphygmomanometer. Data analysis used the Chi-Square and Spearman tests. There was no significant relationship between sodium intake and systolic (p=0.919) or diastolic (p=0.736) blood pressure. Nutritional status was also not significantly related to blood pressure based on the Chi-Square test on systolic (p=0.151) and diastolic (p=1.000). However, Spearman test showed a significant relationship between nutritional status and systolic blood pressure (p=0.002; r=0.324), while no significant relationship was found in diastolic blood pressure (p=0.211; r=0.136). Sodium intake is not associated with hypertension in high school adolescents in Turikale District, Maros Regency. Nutritional status is not associated with blood pressure based on the Chi-Square test, but has a weak positive relationship with systolic blood pressure based on the Spearman test.