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Objectives: The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that severity of sleep apnea (SA), assessed by frequency of apneas and hypopneas per hour of sleep (apnea-hypopnea index [AHI]), is related to sodium intake in patients with heart failure (HF). Background: Dependent edema and overnight rostral fluid shift from the legs correlate with the AHI in patients with HF in whom excessive sodium intake can cause fluid retention. Methods: Sodium intake was estimated by food recordings in 54 HF patients who underwent overnight polysomnography. Results: Thirty-one of the 54 patients had SA, and their mean sodium intake was higher than that in those without SA (3.0 ± 1.2 g vs. 1.9 ± 0.8 g, p < 0.001). There was a significant correlation between the AHI and sodium intake (r = 0.522, p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that the significant independent correlates of the AHI were sodium intake, male sex, and serum creatinine level. Conclusions: These findings suggest that in patients with HF, sodium intake plays a role in the pathogenesis of SA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A systematic review was conducted to determine if mobile health (mHealth) interventions, and which intervention characteristics, effectively support dietary adherence and reduce risk factors in patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD). Using 7 databases, studies involving adult participants with specific CVD diagnoses, mHealth intervention testing, and dietary adherence assessment were identified. Systematic reviews, qualitative studies, or studies testing interventions involving open dialogue between participants and health care providers or researchers were excluded. Two independent reviewers conducted screening and assessed the risk of bias. Thirteen studies involved participants with prehypertension (n = 1), hypertension (n = 9), coronary artery disease (n = 2), and heart failure (n = 1). mHealth interventions in 8 studies improved dietary adherence, 4 showed mixed results, and 1 showed no improvements. Eight studies found interactive text and/or application-based mHealth intervention features effectively improved dietary adherence. One study had a low risk of bias, 2 had some concerns/moderate risk, and 10 had a high/critical or serious risk. In most included studies, mHealth interventions positively impacted dietary adherence for patients with CVD. Clinicians may recommend mHealth interventions to support nutrition education and self-management for their patients with CVD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Diets high in sodium are a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Latin American countries (LAC) consume more than double the recommended sodium levels. Research uptake in dietary sodium reduction policies has been inconsistent in LAC, and the factors impacting research uptake are largely unknown. This study aimed to describe the barriers and facilitators to the uptake of research into sodium reduction policies from a funded research consortium with 5 LAC (Argentina, Brazil, Costa Rica, Paraguay, and Peru). Methods: A qualitative case study included 5 researchers and 4 Ministry of Health officers from the funded consortium. Dimensions from Trostle's framework of actors, content, context, and process and relative advantages from the Diffusion of Innovation informed the semistructured interview guide and analysis. One-on-one interviews were completed from November 2019 to January 2020. The participants validated transcripts, coded, and analyzed using NVivo software. Results: Key barriers to policy advancements included 1) conflicts of interest from the food industry and some government actors; 2) government turnover resulting in policy and personnel changes; 3) a lack of human and financial resources; and 4) and communication gaps among key actors. Key facilitators to policy advancement included: 1) the content and quality of health economic, food supply, and qualitative data; 2) support, technical assistance, and alliances with the government, non-governmental organizations, and international experts; and 3) researchers enhanced skillsets facilitated with communication and dissemination with policymakers. Conclusion: Researchers and policymakers are faced with several barriers and facilitators on research uptake in policies and programs in LAC; these factors should be addressed and leveraged to advance sodium reduction policy development. Future LAC studies can draw from the insights and lessons learned from this case study and apply the results to future efforts on policy nutrition to promote healthy eating and reduce CVD risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]