Factors influencing the occurrence of electrolyte disorders in cancer patients

The objective of this study was to determine the magnitude of electrolyte disorders and influencing factors among cancer patients in Southwest Ethiopia.

Facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Jimma Medical Center (JMC). Eighty-four cancer patients admitted to JMC were recruited for this study. A structured questionnaire and serum electrolyte measurements were used for data collection. Bivariate and multiple logistic regression was employed to determine the association between electrolyte disorders and associated factors among admitted cancer patients. P value ⩽ 0.05 was used as a cut point to declare statistical significance.

The overall prevalence of electrolyte disorders was 60.7%. The presence or absence of comorbid diseases, age, body mass index (BMI), nutritional status, and current prescribed medication use were associated with electrolyte disorders. Younger patients had lower odds for electrolyte disorders (odds ratio (OR) = 0.128 (P value = 0.05) and OR = 0.08 (P value = 0.033)) for the first and the second quartile, respectively. Underweight patients had a threefold likelihood to develop electrolyte disorders (OR = 3.13 (P value = 0.043)) than having normal BMI. Compared with those in need of nutritional intervention, patients not in need of nutritional intervention had lower odds for the disorders (OR = 0.109 (P value = 0.006)). Medication had increased the likelihood of electrolyte disorders by 5.5 times than with no medication (P value = 0.023). Those who had comorbid disease had 10 times likely to develop electrolyte disorders than those who did not have comorbid diseases (P value = 0.004).

Electrolyte disorders were prevalent in cancer patients. Age, BMI, nutritional condition, comorbid disease, and prescribed drugs were the predictors of electrolyte disorders in cancer patients. Authors recommend routine screening of electrolyte disorders in cancer patients and special emphasis on controlling and managing risk factors.