Sodium intake reduction efforts in Lebanon

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) represent the majority of all-cause mortality in Lebanon (60%) in persons aged 50 years and older, who represent 22% of the Lebanese population (approximately 4.467 million) (1,2). CVD, mainly stroke, resulted in 2,072 deaths in 2002 and represent 10% of total deaths according to WHO 2011 estimates (3). Hypertension is a major underlying risk factor for CVD with a prevalence of 29% (4)