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Assessment of Dependence in Activities of Daily Living Among Older Patients in an Acute Care Unit
Published on: September 30, 2020
The pattern of plasma sodium abnormalities in an acute elderly care ward: a cross-sectional study
K A O'Connor1, P E Cotter, M Kingston
1South Munster Geriatric Training Scheme, Dept of Geriatric Medicine, Cork University Hospital, Wilton, Cork.
Introduction:
The combination of ageing, illness, and medications can lead to hyponatraemia or hypernatraemia.
Aims:
To describe the distribution of plasma sodium levels in older patients admitted to hospital.
Methods:
We carried out a hospital based cross-sectional study examining 1,511 serum sodium concentrations ([Na+]) among 336 elderly patients and attempted to elucidate the cause(s) of the abnormal serum [Na+].
Results:
The study population had a mean age of 81.4. Ninety-two (27.4%) patients had hyponatraemia and seven patients (2.1%) had hypernatraemia during their hospitalisation. The distribution of [Na+] results was towards the lower end of the normal range. The mortality rate of patients with hyponatraemia was 14.1% and that of patients with normal serum [Na+] was 8.9%. Six patients with hypernatraemia died in hospital. Lower respiratory tract infection and medication accounted for the majority of cases.
Conclusions:
Deranged [Na+] is common among elderly patients admitted to hospital.
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