The Effect of Age on the Seasonal Prevalence of Hyponatremia in Emergency Patients--A Survey of 66,827 Patients from the Emergency Department

Abstract

Background: Hyponatremia is one of the most commonly encountered electrolyte disorders in the emergency department (ED). Seasonal fluctuations of the prevalence of hyponatremia has been reported. We investigated the influence of age on the seasonal prevalence of hyponatremia in the emergency department in China. Methods: Total of 66827 patients presented to the ED between January 2015 and December 2017 were reviewed. The adult group aged between 18 and 59 years old consisted of 36190 patients and the elderly group aged between 60 and 79 years old consisted of 22064 patients and very elderly group aged over 80 years consisted of 8573 patients. Information collected included age,sex,serum sodium and serum creatinine. Hyponatremia was defined as a serum level Result: Prevalence of hyponatremia was significantly higher in the very elderly group than in the other two groups (30.14%, 22.24%, 15.33%, respectively). Similarly, the prevalence of severely hyponatremia was significantly higher in the very elderly group than in the other two groups (3.37%, 1.97%, 0.85% respectively). Prevalence of hyponatremia and severe hyponatremia was significantly higher in the very elderly group than in the other two groups in all seasons. In the elderly group and the very elderly group, there was a significant correlation between the high temperature weather during summer and prevalence of hyponatremia (r=0.6094, P=0.0354; r=0.6874, P =0.0135, respectively). Conclusion: The age plays a major role on the seasonal prevalence of hyponatremia and severe hyponatremia. Strategies to prevent hyponatremia and severe hyponatremia should be taken especially in the very elderly patients during summer.