Table 1.
Baseline characteristics of the trial participants (N = 1191)
| Variables | Median (IQR) or % (n) |
|---|---|
| Age (years) | 41 (31–54) |
| 20 to <30 years | 22% (259) |
| 30 to <40 years | 26% (309) |
| 40 to <50 years | 21% (254) |
| 50 to <60 years | 16% (193) |
| 60 to <70 years | 10% (120) |
| ≥70 years | 5% (56) |
| Men | 41% (485) |
| Body mass index | 22 (19.38—24.28) |
| Underweight (<18.5) | 16% (186) |
| Normal weight (18.5 to <25) | 64% (765) |
| Overweight (≥25 to <30) | 17% (201) |
| Obese (≥30) | 3% (39) |
| Smoker | |
| Never | 51% (602) |
| Former | 9% (109) |
| Current | 40% (480) |
| Participants’ consumption of table salt with food b | 65% (770) |
| Reported as hypertensive | 15% (117) |
| Reported as diabetic | 4% (49) |
| Reported history of chronic kidney diseases | 2% (21) |
| Reported as pregnant | 1.5% (18) |
| Reported alcohol consumption | 3% (35) |
| Sleep hours | |
| <6 hours (21%) | 21% (251) |
| 6 to >9 hours (66%) | 66% (790) |
| ≥9 hours (13%) | 13% (150) |
| Work-related physical activity a | |
| Sedentary | 40% (479) |
| Moderate | 31% (370) |
| Vigorous | 29% (342) |
| Married | 96% (1143) |
| Religion | |
| Muslim | 41% (494) |
| Hindu | 59% (697) |
| Urinary creatinine (mg/day) | |
| Male (N = 478) | 1489 (1161–1883) |
| Female (N = 703) | 1161 (933–1432) |
| Household-wealth index | |
| 1st quintile | 14% (128) |
| 2nd quintile | 22% (116) |
| 3rd quintile | 21% (115) |
| 4th quintile | 19% (100) |
| 5th quintile | 15% (79) |
a
Measured by the World Health Organization’s Global Physical Activity Questionnaire.
b
All households reported to use table salt for cooking. However, 65% participants additionally used table salt with food.