title: Exercise-associated hyponatraemia on the Kokoda Trail.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of the present study was to determine the prevalence of exercise-associated hyponatraemia in hikers/trekkers along the Kokoda Trail.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross-sectional study of 191 trekkers on the Kokoda Trail, Papua New Guinea. Blood was taken and analysed immediately using point-of-care technology 2 days walk from each end of the Trail.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The main outcome measure was hyponatraemia defined as serum sodium level less than 135 mmol/L. Three participants (1.6%, 95% CI 0.5-4.5%) were found to have mild hyponatraemia. The hyponatraemic group had a median estimated fluid intake on the day of testing that was almost double that of the normal sodium group (6 L vs 3.3 L).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Exercise-associated hyponatraemia occurs in trekkers on the Kokoda Trail. Strategies for prevention of exercise-associated hyponatraemia should be delivered to trekkers via the trekking companies, chiefly focussing on only drinking in response to thirst.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Herston, Queensland, Australia. sean_rothwell@health.qld.gov.au
authors.forename: Sean P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Rothwell
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Rosengren
authors.forename: Amanda M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Rojek
authors.forename: Julian M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: William G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Lukin
authors.forename: Jaimi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Greenslade
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007010:Hyponatremia / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010219:Papua New Guinea / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012964:Sodium / Q000097:blood; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D012964:Sodium