The first national study of salt consumption among the population was launched in Moldova. According to the Ministry Health, the study results will be used to assess the health policy on nutrition and non-transmitted diseases and the tendencies as regards the population’s state of health, IPN reports.

The study includes the collection of urine and salt samples from over 2,000 adults. The participants are selected at random from rural and urban areas by interviewers, who are medical workers with experience in collecting data from the population. In this connection, the authorities call on the population to show openness and to contribute to data collection.

The Ministry of Health said the reduction in salt consumption decreases the risk of hypertension and helps avoid thousands of deaths caused by strokes, heart and kidney diseases. The non-transmitted diseases are the main cause of debility and premature death in Moldova. The cardiovascular and kidney diseases affect about 40% of the adult population, while hypertension is one of the main risk factors for these diseases.

The study is carried out by the National Public Health Center with the support of the World Health Organization and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. It is to be completed by the end of August. The results will be made public when the data are processed.