Mauro Giordano1, Tiziana Ciarambino2, Pietro Castellino3, Lorenzo Malatino3, Alessandro Cataliotti4, Luca Rinaldi2, Giuseppe Paolisso2, Luigi Elio Adinolfi2. 1. Department of Medical, Surgical, Neurological, Metabolic and Geriatrics Sciences, University of Campania "L. Vanvitelli", Italy. Electronic address: Mauro.giordano@unina2.it. 2. Department of Medical, Surgical, Neurological, Metabolic and Geriatrics Sciences, University of Campania "L. Vanvitelli", Italy. 3. Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy. 4. Institute for Experimental Medical Research, Oslo University, Oslo, Norway.
Abstract
STUDY OBJECTIVE: We investigated seasonal prevalence of hyponatremia in the emergency department (ED). DESIGN: A cross-sectional study using clinical chart review. SETTING: University Hospital ED, with approximately 28 000 patient visits a year. TYPE OF PARTICIPANTS: We reviewed 15 049 patients, subdivided in 2 groups: the adult group consisting of 9822 patients aged between 18 and 64years old and the elderly group consisting of 5227 patients aged over 65years presenting to the ED between January 1st, 2014 and December 31st, 2015. INTERVENTION: Emergency patients were evaluated for the presence of hyponatremia by clinical chart review. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Hyponatremia was defined as a serum sodium level<135mmol/l. Mean monthly prevalence of hyponatremia was of 3.74±0.5% in the adult group and it was significantly increased to 10.3±0.7% in the elderly group (p<0.05 vs adults). During the summer, hyponatremia prevalence was of 4.14±0.2% in adult and markedly increased to 12.52±0.7% (zenith) in elderly patients (p<0.01 vs adult group; p<0.05 vs other seasons in elderly group). In the elderly group, we reported a significant correlation between weather temperature and hyponatremia prevalence (r: 0.491; p<0.05). CONCLUSION: We observed a major influence of climate on the prevalence of hyponatremia in the elderly in the ED. Decline in renal function, salt loss, reduced salt intake and increased water ingestion could all contribute to developing hyponatremia in elderly patients during the summer. These data could be useful for emergency physicians to prevent hot weather-induced hyponatremia in the elderly.
STUDY OBJECTIVE: We investigated seasonal prevalence of hyponatremia in the emergency department (ED). DESIGN: A cross-sectional study using clinical chart review. SETTING: University Hospital ED, with approximately 28 000 patient visits a year. TYPE OF PARTICIPANTS: We reviewed 15 049 patients, subdivided in 2 groups: the adult group consisting of 9822 patients aged between 18 and 64years old and the elderly group consisting of 5227 patients aged over 65years presenting to the ED between January 1st, 2014 and December 31st, 2015. INTERVENTION: Emergency patients were evaluated for the presence of hyponatremia by clinical chart review. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS:Hyponatremia was defined as a serum sodium level<135mmol/l. Mean monthly prevalence of hyponatremia was of 3.74±0.5% in the adult group and it was significantly increased to 10.3±0.7% in the elderly group (p<0.05 vs adults). During the summer, hyponatremia prevalence was of 4.14±0.2% in adult and markedly increased to 12.52±0.7% (zenith) in elderly patients (p<0.01 vs adult group; p<0.05 vs other seasons in elderly group). In the elderly group, we reported a significant correlation between weather temperature and hyponatremia prevalence (r: 0.491; p<0.05). CONCLUSION: We observed a major influence of climate on the prevalence of hyponatremia in the elderly in the ED. Decline in renal function, salt loss, reduced salt intake and increased water ingestion could all contribute to developing hyponatremia in elderly patients during the summer. These data could be useful for emergency physicians to prevent hot weather-induced hyponatremia in the elderly.
Authors: Enrica Serretiello; Veronica Folliero; Biagio Santella; Giuseppina Giordano; E Santoro; Francesco De Caro; Pasquale Pagliano; Matteo Ferro; Silvana M Aliberti; Mario Capunzo; Massimiliano Galdiero; Gianluigi Franci; Giovanni Boccia Journal: Int J Microbiol Date: 2021-04-21
Authors: Teresa Salvatore; Pia Clara Pafundi; Raffaele Galiero; Gaetana Albanese; Anna Di Martino; Alfredo Caturano; Erica Vetrano; Luca Rinaldi; Ferdinando Carlo Sasso Journal: Front Med (Lausanne) Date: 2021-06-30