STUDY OF SYMPTOMATIC HYPONATREMIA IN ELDERLY PATIENTS

Abstract

To determine the etiology of   randomly selected 100 symptomatic hyponatremic elderly patients.To explore the clinical profile of the hyponatremia. This cross sectional study was conducted in SREE BALAJI MEDICAL COLLEGE AND HOSPITAL with 100 patients. History and clinical examinations were recorded in all patients at admission. History specially included compulsive water drinking and intake of diuretics. This was followed by a plasma and urinary osmolality determination as well as urinary sodium estimation. In our study total incidence of hyponatremia was 14.3%incidence of symptomatic hyponatremia were 5%, out of 100 patients 24 patients had siadh(24%) which was the commonest cause of hyponatremia. SIADH and euvolumichyponatremia formed the largest subgroup in the study. Drugs, especially diuretics such as furosemide and hydochlorothiazide, have also contributed fairly for the cause of hyponatremia.These results correlated significantly with other studies.