Salt Sensitivity as a Predictor of Hypertension

Salt sensitivity of blood pressure can be identified in half of the hypertensive population and onefourth of normotensive subjects. Salt sensitivity of blood pressure is especially frequent in normotensives from subpopulations known to have a higher frequency of hypertension, such as blacks, older subjects, and first-degree relatives of hypertensives, suggesting a link between salt and the subsequent development of hypertension. A variety of associated markers of salt sensitivity has been described. Recent studies also link calcium and salt sensitivity of blood pressure. Am J Hypertens 1991;4:615S–616S