Hyponatremia in Hospitalized Patients: Prevalence, Clinical Profile and Outcome

Introduction: Hyponatremia is the most common electrolyte disorder encountered in clinical practice. This study aimed to determine the prevalence, clinical features, etiology, and outcomes of hyponatremia among hospitalized patients at NAMS Bir Hospital. Methods: This was a prospective cross-sectional study conducted in the Department of Internal Medicine, NAMS Bir Hospital, from July 2019 to December 2020. All hospitalized patients with serum sodium <135 mEq/L were included. Results: Of 520 patients analyzed, 84 (16.2%) had hyponatremia. Chronic hyponatremia was most common (73.8%). The most common etiology was SIADH (28.6%), followed by hypovolemic hyponatremia (23.8%). In-hospital mortality was 14.3% in the hyponatremia group vs 7.1% in normonatremic patients (p<0.05). Conclusions: Hyponatremia is prevalent among hospitalized patients and is associated with significantly increased mortality. Prompt recognition and appropriate management are essential.