What is the clinical and cost effectiveness of salt and/or fluid restriction in people with heart failure?
Information provided to patients with heart failure usually includes advice to restrict salt and fluid intake. Patients often find this difficult to adhere to, and little is known as to whether or not adherence affects their overall condition, and helps prevent episodes of decompensation. There is a concern that advising fluid restriction in the elderly, whose fluid intake is often low, could potentially be harmful. There is currently variation in practice on what advice patients are given by health professionals and consequently confusion and uncertainty among patients about whether salt and fluid restriction is beneficial. Stakeholders identified this as a priority area for the guideline update, and the committee regarded this as an important aspect of patient care and education that required clarification. For full details see review protocol in Appendix A. Chronic Heart Failure Treating Heart Failure NICE 2018. All rights reserved. Subject to Notice of rights.