Review Article
Mei Li, Liying Zhang and Ji
Abstract
During the past decade, the prevalence of hypertension in Chinese adult population has increased dramatically. It's well accepted that hypertension is the main risk factor for the development of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). In order to control hypertension and CVD in China, addressing the behaviour risk factors in the Chinese population is a cost-effective way. Among the known behaviour risk factors, salt intake reduction is one of the most cost-effective ways to control hypertension and CVD. Ecological Model was used in this review to analyse the pieces of evidence-based determinants and barriers of salt consumption in China, which includes public policy, community, institutional, interpersonal and intrapersonal determinants. Aiming to prevent and control hypertension in China, efforts are needed to overcome these barriers. Some of the barriers are less or not at all modifiable (such as policy and culture), but most of them are possible to modify by behaviours changes. Recommendations for reducing the population's salt consumption also be given based on Ecological Model. However, salt intake reduction would be more effective with the combined efforts of multi-levels rather than individually.