Hyponatraemia in the elderly.
A study of hyponatraemia in the in-patients of a Geriatric Department during a 10-month period showed that 77 patients (11.3%) had plasma sodium concentrations below 130 mmol/l. Thirty-one patients (4.5%) had severe hyponatraemia of less than 125 mmol/l. Seventy-three per cent of hyponatraemias were iatrogenic caused by diuretic or intravenous fluid therapy. Hydrochlorothiazide/amiloride combination has the greatest tendency to produce hyponatraemia compared to all other diuretics (P less than 0.01). Clinical features attributable to hyponatraemia were present in 61%. Nine patients needed hospital admission solely due to hyponatraemia. The mortality rate for hyponatraemia was twice the overall rate for the unit.
D000368:Aged; D004232:Diuretics / Q000009:adverse effects; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007008:Hypokalemia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000209:etiology; D007010:Hyponatremia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000209:etiology*; D007263:Infusions, Parenteral / Q000009:adverse effects
D004232:Diuretics; D004573:Electrolytes