Associations between Baseline Hyponatremia and Activities of Daily Living and Muscle Health in Convalescent Stroke Patients

Abstract

Objectives: Evidence is scarce regarding the association between hyponatremia and functional outcomes among older hospitalized patients. We aimed to evaluate the associations between baseline hyponatremia and improvement in activities of daily living (ADL) and muscle health in hospitalized post-stroke patients. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included hospitalized post-stroke patients. Serum sodium concentrations were extracted from medical records based on blood tests performed within 24 h of admission, with hyponatremia defined as a serum sodium concentration below135 mEq/L. Primary outcome was the discharge ADL as assessed by the motor domain of the Functional Independence Measure (FIM-motor) and its corresponding gain during hospitalization. Other outcomes encompassed the discharge scores for skeletal muscle mass (SMI) and handgrip strength (HGS). Multivariate linear regression analyses were used to determine the association between hyponatremia and outcomes of interest, adjusted for potential confounders. Results: Data from 955 patients (mean age 73.2 years; 53.6% men) were analyzed. The median baseline blood sodium level was 139 [interquartile range: 137, 141] mEq/L, and 84 patients (8.8%) exhibited hyponatremia. After full adjustment for confounders, baseline hyponatremia was significantly and negatively associated with FIM-motor at discharge (β=−0.036, P=0.033) and its gain during hospital stay (β=−0.051, P=0.033). Baseline hyponatremia exhibited an independent and negative association with discharge HGS (β=−0.031, P=0.027), whereas no significant association was found between baseline hyponatremia and discharge SMI (β=−0.015, P=0.244). Conclusions: Baseline hyponatremia demonstrated a correlation with compromised ADL and muscle health in individuals undergoing rehabilitation after stroke.