Table 1. Baseline characteristics of study participants by randomized group.
| Characteristics | Total | Regular salt | Salt Substitute | |
| (All subject) | (N = 282) | (N = 141) | (N = 141) | |
| Age (years) | 63.1 (11.2) | 63.5 (11.3) | 62.8 (11.1) | |
| Sex (% female) | 166 (58.9%) | 81 (57.4%) | 85 (60.3%) | |
| SBP (mmHg) | 176.9 (22.8) | 177.6 (23.3) | 176.1 (22.4) | |
| DBP (mmHg) | 104.5 (12.6) | 105.8 (13.1) | 103.2 (12.0) | |
| Classification of hypertensiona | ||||
| Stage 1 | 56 (19.9%) | 27 (19.1%) | 29 (20.6%) | |
| Stage 2 | 226 (80.1%) | 114 (80.9%) | 112 (79.4%) | |
| Antihypertensive medicine use in the past month (%) | 132 (47.0%) | 71 (50.7%) | 61 (47.0%) | |
| Average number of antihypertensive medicines taken | 0.5 (0.5) | 0.5 (0.5) | 0.4 (0.5) | |
| Body mass index (kg/m2) | 23.6 (3.4) | 23.6 (3.4) | 23.7 (3.1) | |
| (Subjects in Yangbajing township only) | (N = 145) | (N = 72) | (N = 73) | |
| Education | Uneducated(0 year) | 134 (92.4%) | 70 (97.2%) | 64 (87.6%) |
| Primary school(1–5 years) | 10 (6.9%) | 2 (2.8%) | 8 (11.0%) | |
| Middle school(6–9 years) | 1 (0.7%) | 0 (0.0%) | 1 (1.4%) | |
| Occupation | Herdsman | 137 (94.5%) | 71 (98.6%) | 66 (90.4%) |
| Othersb | 8 (5.5%) | 1 (1.4%) | 7 (9.6%) | |
| Smoking history (%, yes)c | 13 (9.0%) | 7 (9.7%) | 6 (8.2%) | |
| Drinking history (%, yes)d | 17 (11.7%) | 9 (12.5%) | 8 (11.0%) | |
All numbers shown are mean (±SD) unless otherwise noted as number (%).
All p-values comparing the two groups are larger than 0.05.
a.
According to the American Heart Association, stage 1 hypertension was defined as 140≤SBP<159 and/or 90≤DBP<100; stage 2 hypertension as SBP≥160 and/or DBP≥100.
b.
Other occupation includes farmer, doctor, self-employed and retired.
c.
Participant who have smoke more than 20 packs in life or smoke at least one cigarette per day and last more than one year was regarded as having smoking history.
d.
Participant who drinks at least once per week was regarded as having drinking history.