Determinants of High Salt Intake in Croatian Adults: Evidence from 24-Hour Urinary Sodium Excretion in the EH-UH 2 Study.

Although significant progress has been made in reducing salt consumption over the past decade, most Croatian adults still exceed the recommended intake. This study aimed to identify demographic, socioeconomic, lifestyle, and clinical factors associated with high salt intake in the general adult population of Croatia. We included a random sample of 1067 adults with reliable 24-h urine samples. A structured questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic, lifestyle, and clinical data. Anthropometric and blood pressure (BP) measurements were performed. Laboratory analyses included the measurement of sodium, potassium, and creatinine in adequate 24-h urine samples, as well as relevant cardiometabolic and kidney-related biomarkers. Participants consuming > 10 g/day of salt were older and had higher systolic blood pressure, fasting glucose, serum uric acid, and triglyceride levels, lower HDL cholesterol levels, and greater BMI. High salt intake was more common among men, ex-smokers, participants with diabetes, and those with lower socioeconomic status (SES). In multinomial logistic regression analysis, male sex, diabetes, higher systolic BP, more frequent processed meat consumption, lower fish consumption, residence outside the Adriatic region, and higher ePWV were associated with high salt intake. High salt intake was associated with lower socioeconomic status, residence in rural and continental areas, obesity, former smoking, and less favorable dietary patterns. Conversely, lower salt intake was associated with residence in the Adriatic region and dietary patterns characterized by more frequent consumption of fish and olive oil.