Community differences in blood pressure levels and drinking water sodium

Abstract

Pomrehn, P. R. (Dept of Preventive Medicine, U. of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242), W. R. Clarke, M. F. Sowers, R. B. Wallace and R. M. Lauer. Community differences In blood pressure levels and drinking water sodium. Am J Epldemiol1983; 118: 60-71.In a study conducted in 1980-1981, the authors surveyed over 2000 school children in eight Iowa communities whose drinking water sodium levels varied from <10 to >300 mg liter. Children in grades 2-5 had four blood pressures, skinfold, height, weight, and heart rates measured while in school. The range of the difference between mean blood pressures by community was <4 mmHg for systolic and fourth phase diastolic. An association between blood pressure and water sodium level was not demonstrated before or after adjustment for covariates. In a subsample of over 200 households in four communities, the authors examined the relationship of blood pressures in adults to water sodium level. Blood pressure means for adults by community varied <4 mmHg for systolic and dlastolic measurements. This variance was not explained by sodium level in the drinking water. These surveys do not substantiate previous reports of a positive association between drinking water sodium levels and blood pressure levels. © 1983 by The Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health.