title: Impact of diuretic therapy-associated electrolyte disorders present on admission to the emergency department: a cross-sectional analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Diuretics are among the most commonly prescribed medications and, due to their mechanisms of action, electrolyte disorders are common side effects of their use. In the present work we investigated the associations between diuretics being taken and the prevalence of electrolyte disorders on admission as well as the impact of electrolyte disorders on patient outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this cross sectional analysis, all patients presenting between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2011 to the emergency room (ER) of the Inselspital, University Hospital Bern, Switzerland were included. Data on diuretic medication, baseline characteristics and laboratory data including electrolytes and renal function parameters were obtained from all patients. A multivariable logistic regression model was performed to assess the impact of factors on electrolyte disorders and patient outcome.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 8.5% of patients presenting to the ER used one diuretic, 2.5% two, and 0.4% three or four. In all, 4% had hyponatremia on admission and 12% hypernatremia. Hypokalemia was present in 11% and hyperkalemia in 4%. All forms of dysnatremia and dyskalemia were more common in patients taking diuretics. Loop diuretics were an independent risk factor for hypernatremia and hypokalemia, while thiazide diuretics were associated with the presence of hyponatremia and hypokalemia. In the Cox regression model, all forms of dysnatremia and dyskalemia were independent risk factors for in hospital mortality.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Existing diuretic treatment on admission to the ER was associated with an increased prevalence of electrolyte disorders. Diuretic therapy itself and disorders of serum sodium and potassium were risk factors for an adverse outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Inselspital, University Hospital Bern, Freiburgstrasse, 3010, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Spyridon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arampatzis
authors.forename: Georg-Christian
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Funk
authors.forename: Alexander Benedikt
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Leichtle
authors.forename: Georg-Martin
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Fiedler
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schwarz
authors.forename: Heinz
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zimmermann
authors.forename: Aristomenis Konstantinos
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Exadaktylos
authors.forename: Gregor
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lindner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004232:Diuretics / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004635:Emergency Medicine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D013557:Switzerland / Q000453:epidemiology; D014883:Water-Electrolyte Imbalance / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology*
chemical_list: D004232:Diuretics