Clinical Profile and Prevalence of Hyponatremia in Critically-ill Patients of All Age Groups

Abstract

Hyponatremia is defined as a serum sodium level of <135 mEq/L. It is the most prevalent electrolyte imbalance encountered in hospital admissions around the world. Hyponatremia has been reported to be present in between 3.4% to 39.4% of hospital admissions, and it is substantially more prevalent in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU). It has been connected to an increase in mortality, hospital stays, and morbidity. An imbalance of specific ionised salts (sodium, potassium, calcium, bicarbonate, and chloride) in the blood is known as an electrolyte problem. Volume abnormalities are the main cause of disturbances in salt homeostasis, which largely produce neurologic symptoms. Serious consequences arise when these electrolyte imbalances worsen, which are frequent clinical issues in the ICU. Hyponatremia has a multifaceted aetiology and it can be of three types: euvolemic, hypovolemic, or hypervolemic hyponatremia. Regardless of being a frequently encountered electrolyte disturbance, hyponatremia is poorly acknowledged. Its relationship with a myriad of fundamental illnesses and its many aetiologies with varying pathological and physiological pathways make diagnosis problematic. Clinicians should be skilled at recognising the symptoms, causes, and aetiologies of hyponatremia when treating sick patients. The signs, symptoms, and causes of hyponatremia should be readily apparent to clinicians treating unwell patients. The present review focuses on the symptoms and clinical findings of hyponatremia in the critically-ill patient and discusses the types, pathophysiology, and clinical profile of these patients.

Keywords

• electrolyte imbalance
• homeostasis
• intensive care unit
• pathophysiology