title: Prevalence of hyponatraemia in patients over the age of 65 who have an in-hospital fall.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Hyponatraemia is the most common electrolyte disorder. Some studies have found that it increases morbidity and mortality. There are new lines of research that are investigating the link between hyponatraemia and patient falls.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine if hyponatraemia is associated with falls in elderly hospitalised patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Design observational, analytical, case-control study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients older than 65 years who had fallen during their hospitalisation at Gregorio Marañón Hospital (Madrid) were considered cases. Patients who did not fall were considered to be controls, paired according to the following variables: hospital ward, age, length of hospital stay, gender and Downton fall risk index. The sample size was 206 subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Socio-demographic factors, variables included in the falls record sheet, Downton fall risk index and sodium levels were studied (hyponatraemia was considered Na(+)< 135mmol/l).
  
  
  METHODS
  A descriptive analysis was performed to determine the sample homogeneity. The OR was calculated, and an analytical analysis using Chi-square test and a multivariate logistic regression analysis were also performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 103 cases recruited, 61 were men (50.4%) and 42 were women (49.4%). Hyponatraemia was detected in 29 cases with an association with falls of P: 0.002. The adjusted OR was 3.708 (1.6-8.3), 95% CI. Risk factors for falls were identified as hyponatraemia and limb sensory deficits.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Given that hyponatraemia could be considered a risk factor for falls, the inclusion of the determination of sodium level would be important for fall prevention strategies in the elderly.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Especialidades de Moratalaz, Grupo de Enfermería, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, España. Electronic address: carmenlobor@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lobo-Rodríguez
authors.affiliation: Grupo de Enfermería, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: Ana M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: García-Pozo
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Continuidad de Cuidados del Anciano Frágil, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gadea-Cedenilla
authors.affiliation: Grupo de Enfermería, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: M Nieves
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Moro-Tejedor
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Cirugía, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: Azucena
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pedraz Marcos
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Fisiopatología Renal, Unidad de Medicina y Cirugía Experimental, Departamento de Nefrología, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón. Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón, Universidad Complutense de Madrid.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tejedor-Jorge
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007010:Hyponatremia / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007297:Inpatients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D020886:Somatosensory Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Accidental Falls; Accidentes por caídas; Anciano; Elderly; Factores de riesgo; Hiponatremia; Hyponatraemia; Risk factors