Incidence and pattern of hyponatremia among hospitalized patient in Benghazi, Libya

ABSTRACT

A retrospective surgery during a 12 months period identified 159 adult patients with hyponatremia [Serum Sodium <130 mmol/L]. Forty nine patients with hyponatremia were normovolemic. Normovolemic hyponatremia was the commonest type, followed by hyponatremia in edematous patients. Hypovolemic hyponatreimia was found in twenty one patients. Hyperglycemia, renal failure and laboratory error caused thirty% of patients in the series to be diagnosed as having hyponatremia. Forty five patients in this study died. The incidence of hyponatremia of 1.42% among adult hospitalized patients observed in the present study compares with the available figures in the literature. Early recognition and rapid correction to mildly hyponatremic levels by administration of hypertonic saline are important in order to reduce the morbidity and mortality