Hospital associated hyponatremia

ABSTRACT

Out of 7843 hospitalized patients admitted in Shaikh Zayed Hospital between April to August, 1988, 342 [4.36%] [had serum electrolytes abnormalities. Hyponatremia was the most common and was seen in 3.45% of all patients and 79.2% of 34.2 patients, with serum electrolyte abnormalities. 73.4% had mild hyponatremia [serum concentration 121-130 mEq/I] 19.6% patients had moderate hyponatremia, [serum sodium concentration 111-120mEq/L] and 7% had severe hyponatremia [serum sodium 110 mEg/L or less]. Advanced renal failure was the most common cause while gastrointestinal problems with vomiting, diarrhoea, congestive heart failure, liver diseases, postoperative states, and i. v. fluid administration were other frequent causes. Mildly hyponatremic patients were usually asyrnptomatic but progressive symptomatology appeared with further decline of serum sodium concentration. Cererbral symptoms were seen in 8% of patients with mild hypomatremia, 53% of cases with moderate and 84% of cases with severe hyponatremia. Nine patients with hyponatremia died, mortality being 3.3%