Is hypernatremia worth its salt?
Author Information
Author(s): Venkatesh Balasubramanian
Primary Institution: The George Institute for Global Health, Gold Coast University Hospital, Australia
Conclusion
Hypernatremia is an independent predictor of mortality in critically ill patients, and there is a need for more liberal administration of free water to these patients.
Supporting Evidence
- Hypernatremia occurs in about 10-15% of ICU patients with normal sodium levels.
- Both studies reported a prevalence of ICU-acquired hypernatremia and its association with mortality.
- Patients with severe hypernatremia had a hospital mortality rate of 24%.
Takeaway
Hypernatremia means having too much sodium in the blood, which can be dangerous for sick patients. Doctors need to give these patients more water to help them recover.
Potential Biases
There may be bias in how ICU doctors perceive hypernatremia as an acceptable side effect of treatments like diuretics.
Limitations
The studies did not report on corticosteroid usage, which is a known risk factor for hypernatremia.
Participant Demographics
Patients admitted to the ICU with normal serum sodium concentrations.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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