Yictims'Serum electrolyte disturbances in sufferers during the Wenchuan earthquake in China / 国际检验医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To study the electrolyte disturbances in the sufferers during the Wen-chuan earthquake in China,and investigate their possible pathomechanism. Methods Serum concentra-tions of potassium (K), sodium (Na), chlorine (Cl), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) and inorganic phosphate (P) were determined in four hundred sufferers. Their values were analyzed via statistical method. Results Significant differences of all determined six electrolytes were observed among various groups. Pearson correlation analysis showed that correlative changes among electrolytes were similar in various groups except the correlation coefficients of Na-Mg in dialysis group (r= 0.066, P = 0.546) and non-dialysis group (r=-0.433, P= 0.044). Multivariate logistic analysis revealed the highest risk factor was K+,which led to crush injury (OR= 28.037, P= 0.000) and crush syndrome (OR=6.434,P=0.000). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve revealed that K+ was the most specific (specificity 98.5%; cutoff value 5.8 mmol/L),Ca2+ was the most sensitive (sensitivity 81.1%; cutoff value 1.75 mmol/L) for crush injury diagnosis. The specificity of serum K+ , Mg2+ amd P was comparative in diagnosis of crush syndrome. The sensitivity of Ca2+ was the highest,ac-counting for 75.3%. Conclusion Electrolyte disturbances of suffers occur during a natural disaster; serum electrolyte measurement contributes to correct diagnosis and severity assessment.