Increased Ambient Temperature and Hyponatremia Presentations: A 10-Year Retrospective Study at an Australian Hospital
Main finding · Serum sodium concentrationResult — go to the resultDifference 0.55 mmol/L 95% CI 0.36–0.77Authors' conclusion
Our study demonstrates that serum sodium concentrations are lower and profound hyponatremia-related hospital admissions higher when ambient temperatures are warmer. This suggests that hyponatremia is a climate-associated health issue. Local public health advice for water consumption during heatwaves should consider this risk, and prompt action to limit climate change is required to mitigate this risk.
Study context
- Population
- Serum sodium results at the Austin Hospital, Melbourne, January 2014 to December 2023, correlated with Australian Bureau of Meteorology temperature data45,718 low sodium results
- Participants
- 26,557 participants
- Exposure
- Warmer vs cooler ambient temperature
- Outcome
- Serum sodium concentrations and incidence of hyponatremia admissions correlated to temperature and following heatwave events (temperature above 30 °C over 5 consecutive days)
Methodological detailssingle-centre, 10-year
- Single-centre
- 10-year
Main finding
Serum sodium concentration
Difference
0.55 mmol/L
95% CI 0.36–0.77
P < 0.001
As reported in the abstract
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | Difference (mmol/L) (95% CI) | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Serum sodium by sexWomenvs Men | −0.21 (−0.29 to −0.12) | P < 0.001 | |
| −0.4−0.200.2Difference, mmol/L (linear scale) |
| Outcome | Difference (mmol) (95% CI) | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Serum sodium by ageOlder than 80 yearsvs younger than 65 yearsLower in patients older than 80 years | −0.39 (−0.50 to −0.29) | P < 0.001 | |
| −0.6−0.4−0.200.2Difference, mmol (linear scale) |
Profound hyponatremia admissions (sodium ≤125 mmol/L) · more frequent following a heatwave
P = 0.04
- Profound hyponatremia admissions (sodium ≤125 mmol/L): heatwave: temperature above 30 °C over 5 consecutive days
Hospital admissions with hyponatremia by season
- Hospital admissions with hyponatremia were more frequent during summer months
Original publication
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