Hypernatremia in the Emergency Department

Abstract

INtrOductION: To determine the symptoms, clinical characteristics, prevalence and outcome of patients with hypernatremia who presented at the emergency department. MAterIAl and MethOdS: We retrospectively studied patients who presented at the emergency department with hypernatremia (Na>148 meq/l) from January 2008 to December 2008. reSultS: A total of 25.545 cases presented at the Emergency Department and hypernatremia was seen in 86 patients. The prevalence of hypernatremia was 0.34%. The mean age was 69.5±15.2 (2096, median age: 75) years and 51 of them (59%) were male. Forty percent of the patients died. There were no significant differences according to age, gender and admission Na levels. A comorbid disease were seen 99% of patients. Cerebrovascular disease(CVD), dementia/Alzheimer and hypertension were the most common co-morbid diseases (respectively, 34%, 34%,and 27%). Central neurological system disorders (such as thrombotic or hemorrhagic CVD, Alzheimer, etc.) were seen in 72% of the cases. Fifty patients had acute infection at the time of admission. Acute urinary infection, pneumonia and acute CVD were the most common acute illnesses. cONcluSION: Hypernatremia is usually seen in the geriatric population and associated with a high mortality and morbidity rate and the majority of patients with hypernatremia have a comorbid disease. The prevalence of hypernatremia was 0.34% in our emergency department. keY wOrdS: Hypernatremia, Prevalance, Symptoms, Mortality, Risk factors doi: 10.5262/tndt.2012.1002.04 Yazisma Adresi: Idris SAhIN Inonu Universitesi Tip Fakultesi, Ic Hastaliklari Anabilim Dali, Nefroloji Bilim Dali, Malatya, Turkiye Tel : 0 532 447 59 88 E-posta : sahinidris@hotmail.com Gelis Tarihi : 27.12.2011 Kabul Tarihi : 01.02.2012