The pattern of plasma sodium abnormalities in an acute elderly care ward: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Deranged [Na+] is common among elderly patients admitted to hospital.

Increased mortality in hypernatremic burned patients

“…The mortality rate in our study was lower than in other studies (38% to 66%) [4], [8], [9], [10], [11], [12], [13] (Table 3 (Tab. 3)).…”

“…Generally, in-hospital hypernatremia has a low incidence of 1–2% [4], [7], but appears to be associated with increased mortality rates range from 38% to 66% compared to normonatremic patients [4], [8], [9], [10], [11], [12], [13]. Hypernatremia appears more frequently in individuals with an altered status, unconscious patients, infants, and elderly patients (>65 years) [6], [8], [9] and is associated with the use of diuretics and co-morbidities – like renal insufficiency, diarrhea, or febrile illness [10], [14], [15].…”

“…Hypernatremia appears more frequently in individuals with an altered status, unconscious patients, infants, and elderly patients (>65 years) [6], [8], [9] and is associated with the use of diuretics and co-morbidities – like renal insufficiency, diarrhea, or febrile illness [10], [14], [15]. In Intensive Care Units (ICUs) an acquired hypernatremic state is reported up to 7.9% [10], [11], [12], [13].…”

Endothelial Sodium Channels Trigger Endothelial Salt Sensitivity With Aging

“…We conclude that aldosterone (via EnNaC) is required to render vascular endothelium sensitive to sodium. Aging-induced enhanced EC sensitivity to aldosterone/salt might contribute to the lower systemic levels of renin and aldosterone 36 and to the increased systemic salt sensitivity in spite of unchanged or even decreased plasma sodium concentrations 37,38 that are observed at age.…”

Serum sodium abnormality profile in hospitalized elderly patients in a tertiary care centre from north India: a cross sectional observational study

“…When hypernatremia does occur, it is associated with a high mortality rate (>50% in most studies). 9 In hospitalized patients, it is persistent severe hypernatremia and later on protracted hypotension; which has been associated with a very poor prognosis. 10 Among the sodium disorders it is hyponatremia, an excess of water in relation to the sodium in the extracellular fluid, is the most common electrolyte disorder in hospitalized patients and particularly so in the elderly patients.…”