Knowledge of and Accordance to Dietary Sodium Restrictions in Heart Failure Patients (LB346)

Lack of knowledge and accordance to the low‐sodium diet (< 2,000 mg) in heart failure (HF) patients has been associated with worsening symptoms, a decrease in quality of life, and hospital re‐admittance rate. Therefore, we surveyed 88 HF patients (mean age ± SD, 54 ± 14 years) from the outpatient clinic at Rush University Medical Center about practical sodium knowledge using the Parkland Sodium Knowledge test (low knowledge 0‐3; high knowledge 4‐10) and accordance to a low‐sodium diet (< 2,000 mg) using the Nutrition Quest Block Sodium Screener. The majority was non‐Hispanic Black (69.3%) and male (56.8%), and median (IQR) for months since HF diagnosis was 14 (3, 28). Median (IQR) knowledge was 7 (3, 10) on a scale of 1 to 10, reflecting high knowledge (71.6% knowledgeable). Many (53.4%) of the patients correctly sorted high‐ and low‐sodium food containers. Only 33% knew the sodium guidelines, and 50% read the sodium component on the food label correctly. Despite high knowledge, 64.8% of HF patients were not accordant to the diet (mean ± SD sodium intake, 2,602 ± 1,412 mg). Barriers to accordance included low‐sodium foods not tasting good (35.2%), low‐sodium foods being expensive (11.4%), and difficulties eating outside the home (28.4%). There was no association between knowledge and accordance to the diet (p = 0.92). Discordance in sodium knowledge and accordance (high knowledge, low accordance) provides evidence for registered dietitians to focus on incorporating behavioral strategies during patient education that address barriers to accordance.