Restricted Daily Sodium Intake as Heart Failure Management: A Systematic Review

Objective: To evaluate mortality and morbidity in HF patients receiving sodium restriction. Study Design: Systematic Literature Review (SLR) of RCTs and Cohort studies worldwide published between Jan 2013 to Jan 2023. Methodology: We systematically selected RCTs and Cohort studies with sodium restriction as an intervention published within the last decade from five databases (PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Medline). The full texts retrieved were assessed for risk of bias, and then a systematic review was performed. The endpoints analyzed were mortality and morbidity. Result: Five RCTs and two cohort studies were included in this study, with 2,505 participants. The endpoints retrieved were mortality and morbidity (hospitalization, NYHA functional class, BNP or NT-proBNP level, quality of life, and congestion). No improvement was seen in mortality and hospitalization, but sodium restriction improved the rest of the morbidity indicators. Over-restricted and overconsumption of sodium intake might worsen HF presentation. When analyzed based on the HF groups, there was not enough evidence to recommend sodium dose based on ejection fraction; however, there was potentially more benefit for patients with higher NYHA classes. However, more evidence is still needed. Conclusion: Sodium restriction did not benefit mortality and hospitalization but improved quality of life, systolic blood pressure, and BNP or NT-pro BNP levels in all HF classes.