O-82 Self-reported multimorbidity and knowledge, attitudes and practices concerning salt intake, and estimated sodium consumption among Jamaican adults: a cross-sectional study

Methods: Trained interviewers administered a questionnaire on self-reported health conditions and knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding salt consumption in a nationally representative survey of Jamaicans ≥18 years. Multimorbidity was defined as reporting ≥2 of the following conditions: hypertension, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, asthma, sickle cell disease, kidney disease, cancer. KAP-SC was assessed from scales created from the questionnaire. Daily sodium consumption was estimated from spot urine samples using published formulae. Logistic regression was used to explore associations between multimorbidity, KAP-SC, and estimated SC. Estimates were weighted for survey design.

Results: Data from 980 participants (380 males, 600 females; mean age 40.8 years) were analysed. Prevalence of multimorbidity was 15.9% (95%CI 14.5%-17.5%) and increased with age (2.5% for 18-34 years vs 52.7% for ≥75 years). Prevalence was higher in women (20.3% vs. 11.1%, pHS 8.5%, p<0.001). In sex-specific multivariable models adjusted for sociodemographic variables and other KAP-SC indices, higher consumption of minimally processed foods (OR 0.89 [95%CI 0.79-0.99]) and preference for low salt diet (OR 0.38 [95%CI 0.19-0.77]) were associated with lower odds of multimorbidity in men. Among women, odds of multimorbidity were higher with higher scores indicating limiting salt intake (OR 1.54 [95%CI 1.18-2.01]), and lower with more intake of ultra-processed foods (OR 0.88 [95%CI 0.84-0.93]). There was no association between multimorbidity and SC knowledge or estimated SC. 

Conclusion: Multimorbidity was not associated with SC knowledge or estimated SC, but there were sex-specific associations with SC attitudes and practices. Public health interventions addressing KAP-SC among people with multimorbidity are urgently needed.