Approach to Hyponatremia in the Elderly Population

Authors : Dilek Tüzün

Pages : 85-90

Doi:10.17517/ksutfd.1206810

View : 44 | Download : 60

Publication Date : 2024-07-22

Article Type : Review Paper

Abstract :Hyponatremia is the most common electrolyte disorder in both hospitalized patients and the normal population. The prevalence of hyponatremia is approximately 8% in the population and increases significantly with age. In older patients, more than one factor often plays a role in the development of hyponatremia. The tendency of the elderly to develop hyponatremia is mainly attributed to impaired water excretion capacity associated with aging and frequent exposure to drugs and diseases associated with hyponatremia. In acute symptomatic hyponatremia, hypertonic saline solution is commonly used to acutely increase serum sodium levels and prevent severe neurological symptoms. In chronic hyponatremia, the rate of correction of serum sodium concentration should be limited to 10 mEq/L/24 h and more safely to 6–8 mEq/L/24 h. Since both the evaluation and treatment of hyponatremia are difficult in the older population, very careful evaluation is required.
Keywords : Hiponatremi, geriatri, ilaçlar