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The Impact of Hyponatremia
Author(s) -
Patterson J. Herbert
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
pharmacotherapy: the journal of human pharmacology and drug therapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.227
H-Index - 109
eISSN - 1875-9114
pISSN - 0277-0008
DOI - 10.1592/phco.31.5.5s
Subject(s) - hyponatremia , medicine , electrolyte disorder , intensive care unit , intensive care medicine , osteoporosis , electrolyte imbalance , pediatrics
Hyponatremia is the most common electrolyte disorder encountered in clinical practice and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Clinical consequences of hyponatremia include neurologic dysfunction, decreased mental function, cerebral edema, gait disturbances and falls, osteoporosis, and fractures. Hyponatremia can increase hospital length of stay by 1–2 days and correlates with an increased risk of intensive care unit admission. Thus, hyponatremia is associated with substantial economic and clinical consequences, as well as an increased risk of mortality, especially in individuals with very low serum sodium concentrations.