ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Thiazide diuretics are a mainstay in the management of hypertension and often associated with dyselectrolytemias. We investigated the prevalence of and risk factors for hyponatremia and hypokalemia in thiazide users, substance-specific differences, and the association of thiazides with syncope and falls. METHODS: In this cross-sectional analysis all patients admitted to an interdisciplinary emergency department in Switzerland between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2018, with measurements of serum sodium and potassium were included. Data regarding serum electrolytes and creatinine were analyzed to classify for dysnatremias, dyskalemias, and acute kidney injury. Chart reviews were performed to screen for syncope or falls. RESULTS: A total of 1604 patients (7.9%) took thiazides. Acute kidney injury was significantly more common in thiazide users (22.1 vs 7%, P < .0001). Hyponatremia (22.1 vs 9.8%, P < .0001) and hypokalemia (19 vs 11%, P < .0001) were more frequent with thiazides. Thiazide use together with higher age and female sex were independent predictors of hyponatremia and hypokalemia. A dose-dependent effect was found for electrolyte disorders, and there was a variance in risk between the investigated substances with chlorthalidone bearing the highest and hydrochlorothiazide the lowest risk. Patients taking thiazide diuretics had significantly more episodes of syncope and falls. CONCLUSIONS: Thiazide use is a clear risk factor for hyponatremia and hypokalemia. The effect appears to be dose-dependent and highly variable depending on the substance. Syncope and falls seem to be causally related to thiazide use. Especially in patients who are elderly, female, and prone to falls, the use of thiazide diuretics should be thoroughly questioned.
Subject(s)
Accidental Falls , Hypertension , Hypokalemia , Hyponatremia , Sodium Chloride Symporter Inhibitors , Syncope , Water-Electrolyte Balance/drug effects , Accidental Falls/prevention & control , Accidental Falls/statistics & numerical data , Aged , Antihypertensive Agents/therapeutic use , Chlorthalidone/therapeutic use , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Humans , Hypertension/drug therapy , Hypertension/epidemiology , Hypokalemia/chemically induced , Hypokalemia/diagnosis , Hypokalemia/epidemiology , Hyponatremia/chemically induced , Hyponatremia/diagnosis , Hyponatremia/epidemiology , Male , Middle Aged , Prevalence , Risk Assessment , Sodium Chloride Symporter Inhibitors/adverse effects , Sodium Chloride Symporter Inhibitors/therapeutic use , Switzerland/epidemiology , Syncope/blood , Syncope/epidemiology , Syncope/etiologyABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Exertional heat stroke is a life-threatening condition often complicated by multiorgan failure. We hereby present a case of a 25-year-old male presenting with syncope after a 10 km run in 28°C outside temperature who developed acute liver failure. Case Presentation. Initial temperature was found to be 41.1°C, and cooling measures were rapidly applied. He suffered from acute renal failure and rhabdomyolysis and proceeded to acute liver failure (ASAT 6100 U/l and ALAT 6561 U/l) due to hypoxic hepatitis on day 3. He did not meet criteria for emergency liver transplantation and recovered on supportive care. CONCLUSIONS: Acute liver failure due to heat stroke is a life-threatening condition with often delayed onset, which nevertheless resolves on supportive care in the majority of cases; thus, a delayed referral to transplant seems to be reasonable.
