Seasonal variation in hydration status among community-dwelling elderly in Japan

While the heat during the summer season may dehydrate the elderly, little is known about the seasonal variation in dehydration. This study aimed to investigate the seasonal variation in hydration status among the community-dwelling elderly in Japan.

We retrospectively analyzed the data collected after an overnight fast of adults aged ≥65 years who had no advanced kidney disease and underwent an annual health checkup at Nihon University Hospital between January and December 2019. Participants were classified according to their checkup date, whether summer (n = 265) or not summer (n = 638). The not summer group was subdivided into spring (n = 235), autumn (n = 213) and winter (n = 190).

Among the four seasons, the spring group showed the highest levels of plasma osmolality (306.1 ± 3.9 mOsm/L), urine specific gravity (1.0172 ± 0.0058) and prevalence rates of urine specific gravity ≥1.020 (34.0%). However, seasonal differences were clinically mild, and >90% of participants showed plasma osmolality ≥300 mOsm/L, indicating dehydration, in all four seasons. The summer group showed lower urine specific gravity levels (1.0150 ± 0.0062 vs. 1.0165 ± 0.0064, P < 0.001) and prevalence rates of urine specific gravity ≥1.020 (22.6% vs. 30.4%, P = 0.023) than did the not summer group. The summer season was associated with low urine specific gravity levels even after adjusting for the multiple linear regression model.

Japanese elderly after overnight fast are more dehydrated during the spring rather than the summer. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2020; 20: 904-910.