ABSTRACT
To determine the incidence and aetiology of Hypernatremia in adult patients admitted to a general hospital in Kuwait as it has not been studied as frequently as hyponatremia. A hospital based retrospective study carried out between July 2009 to Dec 2009. Medical inpatient wards, department of medicine, Al-Jahra hospital, Kuwait. 92 hypernatremia patients [41 males and 51 females] of the total 1825 patients were analyzed and their aetiology studied. Frequency, aetiology and outcome of Hypernatremia in adult inpatients. All blood samples were analyzed in biochemistry department on LX20 machine. Information regarding age, gender, highest serum sodium levels, clinical diagnoses and further clinical information suggesting causes of hypernatremia was gathered. Results: Of the total 1825 patients analyzed, 5.04% were diagnosed with hypernatremia with a mean serum sodium of 150.9 mmol/L. Among major causes of hypernatremia were hyperglycemia [21.7%], IV fluids [21.7%] and dehydration [17.4%] The overall incidence of hypernatremia in this hospital was 5.04%. Hyperglycemia and IV fluid administration were the commonest causes. Prompt treatment of hypernatremia is necessary but care should be taken to avoid excessively rapid correction or overcorrection, which increases the risk of iatrogenic cerebral edema