Incidence and Pattern of Hyponatremia Among Hospitalized Patients in Benghazi, Libya

Original article

English

S. Zunni, S. Tabbal, M. Ahmed

Department of Medicine, 7th April Hospital, Benghazi, G.S.P.L.A.J.

Garyounis Medical Journal Vol. 14, No. 1-2. January/July 1991: 48-51

Abstract

A retrospective survey during a 12 months period identified 159 adult patients with hyponutremia (Serum Sodium <130 mmol/L). Forty nine patients with hyponatreinia were normovolemic. Normovolemic hyponatreniia was the commonest type, followed by hyponatremia in edematous patients. Hypovolemic hyponatreimia was found in twenty one patients. Hyperglycemia, renal failure and laboratory error caused thirty percent of patients in the series to be diagnosed as having hyponatremia. Forty five patients in this study died. The incidence of hyponatremia of 1.42 percent among adult hospitalized patients observed in the present study compares with the available figures in the literature. Early recognition and rapid correction to mildly hyponatremic levels by administration of hypertonic saline are important in order to reduce the morbidity and mortality. Keywords: Incidence and Pattern of Hyponatremia Among Hospitalized Patients in Benghazi, Libya Link/DOI: