Disparities and spatial variations of high salt intake in Iran: a subnational study of districts based on the small area estimation method. Issue 18 (15th December 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Azadnajafabad, Sina; Ebrahimi, Narges; Mohammadi, Esmaeil; Ghasemi, Erfan; Saeedi Moghaddam, Sahar; Aminorroaya, Arya; Rezaei, Negar; Ghanbari, Ali; Masinaei, Masoud; Mohammadi Fateh, Sahar; Haghshenas, Rosa; Gorgani, Fateme; Kazemi, Ameneh; Dilmaghani-Marand, Arezou; Farzadfar, Farshad
• Is Part Of: Public health nutrition. Volume 24:Issue 18(2021)
• Page Start: 6281
• Page End: 6291
• Publication Date: 2021-12-15
• Subjects: Salt -- Sodium chloride -- Iran -- Estimation -- Spatial variation; Nutrition -- Periodicals; Nutrition policy -- Periodicals; Public health -- Periodicals; 613.2
• DOI: 10.1017/S1368980021002986
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1368-9800

Abstract

Abstract: Objective: High salt intake is one of the leading diet-related risk factors for several non-communicable diseases. We aimed to estimate the prevalence of high salt intake in Iran. Design: A modelling study by the small area estimation method, based on a nationwide cross-sectional survey, Iran STEPwise approach to risk factor Surveillance (STEPS) 2016. The modelling estimated the prevalence of high salt intake, defined as a daily salt intake ≥ 5 g in all districts of Iran based on data from available districts. The modelling results were provided in different geographical and socio-economic scales to make the comparison possible across the country. Setting: 429 districts of all provinces of Iran, 2016. Participants: 18 635 salt intake measurements from individuals 25 years old and above who participated in the Iran STEPS 2016 survey. Results: All districts in Iran had a high prevalence of high salt intake. The estimated prevalence of high salt intake among females of all districts ranged between 72·68 % (95 % UI 58·48, 84·81) and 95·04 % (95 % UI 87·10, 100). Estimated prevalence for males ranged between 88·44 % (95 % UI 80·29, 96·15) and 98·64 % (95 % UI 94·97, 100). In all categorisations, males had a significantly higher prevalence of high salt intake. Among females, the population with the lower economic status had a higher salt consumption than the participants with higher economic status by investigating the concentration index. Conclusions: Findings of this study highlight the high salt intake as a prominent risk factor in all Iran regions, despite some variations in different scales. More suitable population-wide policies are warranted to handle this public health issue in Iran.