Background: There are conflicting reports on the association of socioeconomic (SES) characteristics and lifestyle with salt and potassium intake as well as with the sodium-to-potassium (Na/K) ratio. This paper examined how SES status and lifestyle habits affect salt, potassium intake, and the Na/K ratio in adults. Methods: Adults subjects (random sample) from the EH-UH 2 nationwide study with valid 24 h urine samples were included in these analyses. We used a questionnaire which included SES and questions related to lifestyle. Salt and potassium levels were measured using a 24 h urine collection. Results: A low level of professional qualification and education are important predictors of high salt and low potassium intake. SES affects salt intake more than potassium intake. Processed meat was the most important determinant of high salt intake. It significantly affected potassium intake, but this was not relevant due to a poor Na/K ratio. Non-smoking status was related to high daily salt and potassium intake, but with no significantly positive impact on Na/K ratio. Former smokers swapped one unhealthy habit for another, such as overeating or consuming too much salt. The Adriatic/Mediterranean diet, represented in this study with frequent olive oil and fish consumption, was related to more favourable salt and potassium intake and a better Na/K ratio. Targets of daily salt and potassium intake, as well as of Na/K ratio were achieved in a very low proportion of the population regardless of SES, lifestyle and behaviour. Conclusions: Our results emphasize the need for public-health strategies that consider both diet and individual characteristics to address nutritional inequalities and promote healthier eating habits. Targeted nutrition programmes for lower SES groups should emphasize salt reduction and encourage potassium-rich diets, thus reducing health imparities and the burden of diet-related chronic diseases. The prevention strategy should be more proactive and specifically designed for the food (meat) industry. A more holistic approach should be taken for smokers when quitting smoking is necessary, the whole population should be educated to change habits toward the Adriatic diet pattern, and the government should make olive oil and fish more affordable to all citizens, particularly to those with poor SES.

Background: Women experience unique biological and life-course determinants of cardio-kidney-metabolic (CKM) health, yet the relationship between health literacy, CKM risk awareness, and preventive lifestyle behaviors remains poorly understood. We aimed to examine health literacy, CKM risk awareness, and Mediterranean diet adherence among women across different stages of adulthood and to qualitatively explore barriers and facilitators influencing the translation of health knowledge into preventive behaviors. Methods: We conducted a convergent mixed-methods study involving 198 women aged ≥18 years who completed a web-based questionnaire assessing health literacy, CKM risk awareness, Mediterranean diet adherence, and sociodemographic characteristics. Quantitative data were compared between women aged ≤50 years and >50 years using appropriate statistical tests. Two focus groups involving 14 women aged >50 years underwent inductive thematic analysis to explore perceptions of CKM health and preventive lifestyle behaviors. Results: Women older than 50 years had higher body mass index (27.79 ± 4.01 vs. 24.10 ± 4.20 kg/m², p < 0.001), a greater prevalence of chronic disease (87.7% vs. 36.8%, p < 0.001), and higher Mediterranean Diet Scores (9.46 ± 4.54 vs. 7.99 ± 4.87, p = 0.035) than younger women, whereas health literacy (3.11 ± 0.48 vs. 3.07 ± 0.52, p = 0.599) and CKM risk awareness (26.25 ± 4.82 vs. 26.90 ± 5.33, p = 0.391) were comparable between age groups. Health literacy was moderately positively associated with CKM risk awareness (rho = 0.388, p < 0.001), whereas neither health literacy nor CKM risk awareness was significantly associated with Mediterranean diet adherence. Qualitative findings identified a persistent knowledge–behavior gap, with women demonstrating substantial experiential knowledge of chronic disease but reporting that work, caregiving responsibilities, and stress frequently impeded implementation of healthy lifestyle behaviors. Conclusions: Although health literacy was positively associated with CKM risk awareness, neither was significantly associated with Mediterranean diet adherence. These findings highlight a gap between health-related knowledge and dietary practice and support preventive strategies that combine health education with behavioral and environmental support.

Although significant progress has been made in reducing salt consumption over the past decade, most Croatian adults still exceed the recommended intake. This study aimed to identify demographic, socioeconomic, lifestyle, and clinical factors associated with high salt intake in the general adult population of Croatia. We included a random sample of 1067 adults with reliable 24-h urine samples. A structured questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic, lifestyle, and clinical data. Anthropometric and blood pressure (BP) measurements were performed. Laboratory analyses included the measurement of sodium, potassium, and creatinine in adequate 24-h urine samples, as well as relevant cardiometabolic and kidney-related biomarkers. Participants consuming > 10 g/day of salt were older and had higher systolic blood pressure, fasting glucose, serum uric acid, and triglyceride levels, lower HDL cholesterol levels, and greater BMI. High salt intake was more common among men, ex-smokers, participants with diabetes, and those with lower socioeconomic status (SES). In multinomial logistic regression analysis, male sex, diabetes, higher systolic BP, more frequent processed meat consumption, lower fish consumption, residence outside the Adriatic region, and higher ePWV were associated with high salt intake. High salt intake was associated with lower socioeconomic status, residence in rural and continental areas, obesity, former smoking, and less favorable dietary patterns. Conversely, lower salt intake was associated with residence in the Adriatic region and dietary patterns characterized by more frequent consumption of fish and olive oil.