Zrinka Mihaljević

Objective: The connection between increased dietary salt intake and arterial hypertension has been recognized for a long time, even in children. This study aimed to investigate salt consumption in normotensive and hypertensive children and evaluate their dietary habits. Materials and Methods: A total of fifty participants were included in this cross-sectional study: twenty-five normotensive children and 25 children of both sexes with essential arterial hypertension from 12–17 years old. Subjects’ body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio, body composition and arterial blood pressure were measured, and their daily salt intake was calculated from 24-h urine samples. Using the food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), the data on the average daily total energy and food intakes were collected and analyzed using a suitable program. Results: Estimated daily salt intake was significantly higher in hypertensive compared to normotensive children, and this is positively associated with blood pressure and body mass index (BMI). Hypertensive children had significantly higher BMIs, which also positively correlated with blood pressure. Consistently, resting metabolic rate (kcal) is higher in hypertensive children compared to normotensive, and this is also associated with blood pressure. Reported energy intake is also enlarged in hypertensive compared to normotensive children and for both groups, levels are significantly higher than the recommended values. Conclusions: Our study results confirm the relationship between daily salt consumption, blood pressure and body weight. Sodium consumption related to blood pressure and body weight among children. Cardiovascular disease prevention should start in early childhood by reducing salt intake and preventing overweight/obesity since these are two of the most important modifiable risk factors for hypertension.

Aim: The aim was to define the impact of comorbidities, specifically hypertension as one of the most common chronic diseases, on the outcome and length of stay for COVID-19 patients.Methods: The cross-sectional study, carried out from October to December 2021, included 129 hospitalised COVID-19 patients who presented to the Emergency Department and were hospitalised and treated in the COVID ward in the General Hospital Našice. All patients tested positive for COVID-19 with a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. Clinical parameters were also recorded and they included demographic factors, comorbidities, type of antihypertensive therapy, new-onset hypertension, length of stay and the overall outcome.Results: The most common comorbidity was hypertension (86, 66.7%). Hypertension was associated with women (P = 0.03) and age over 65 years (P < 0.001). Length of stay was longer for patients with hypertension (P = 0.04) and/or diabetes mellitus (P = 0.04). Higher mortality was associated with age over 65 years (P < 0.001) and a higher number of comorbidities (P = 0.01). New-onset hypertension was recorded in three patients. There was no significant difference in the outcome in relation to antihypertensive therapy.Conclusion: Hypertension is the most common comorbidity in hospitalised COVID-19 patients. Although treated hypertension did not have a negative impact on the outcome, other potential risk factors, including a higher number of comorbidities and older age, are associated with mortality in COVID-19 patients.