Electrolyte disturbances in patients with chronic, stable asthma: effect of therapy.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of electrolyte disturbances in patients with chronic, stable asthma, and to assess whether the therapeutic agents used to treat chronic asthma have an effect on abnormal electrolyte levels.


METHODS
Prospective, hospital-based, cross-sectional study.


METHODS
University teaching hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.


METHODS
Patients with chronic, stable asthma.


METHODS
Ninety-three consecutive patients with chronic, stable asthma were involved in the study. On the day of the visit to the asthma clinic, particulars such as age, sex, duration of asthma, and details of drug therapy were obtained from each asthmatic patient. Serum potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, and sodium levels were measured. Normal values were as follows: potassium, 3.5 to 5 mmol/L; magnesium, 0.74 to 1.2 mmol/L; phosphorus, 0.8 to 1.4 mmol/L; and calcium, 2.1 to 2.6 mmol/L.


RESULTS
Electrolyte disturbances were found in 43% of the patients; 85% of the patients had one electrolyte disturbance, 10% had two electrolyte disturbances, and 5% had three electrolyte disturbances. The highest proportions were for magnesium (26.9%) and phosphorus (15.1%) [serum levels were 0.69 +/- 0.04 mmol/L and 0.64 +/- 0.09 mmol/L, respectively], the lowest proportions were for potassium (5.4%) and sodium (4.3%) [serum levels were 3.3 +/- 0.01 mmol/L and 133 +/- 0.01 mmol/L, respectively], and no patient had a calcium disturbance. Logistic regression analysis showed no statistically significant association between the therapy used and electrolyte disturbances.


CONCLUSIONS
Hypomagnesemia and hypophosphatemia were found to be the two most common electrolyte disturbances in patients with chronic, stable asthma. Therapeutic agents used to treat patients with chronic asthma have no effect on abnormal electrolyte levels. The underlying cause still remains unclear.
Alamoudi
O S
OS
Department of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. dramoudi@yahoo.com
D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017674:Hypophosphatemia / Q000209:etiology; D008274:Magnesium / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000097:blood; D011188:Potassium / Q000097:blood; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012964:Sodium / Q000097:blood; D014883:Water-Electrolyte Imbalance / Q000209:etiology*
D010758:Phosphorus; D012964:Sodium; D008274:Magnesium; D011188:Potassium; D002118:Calcium