Hyponatraemia in patients with end-stage renal disease in Maiduguri

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of hyponatraemia in patients with End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) in our centre.

Methods; One hundred patients with CKD comprising 68 males and 32 females were enrolled into the study. Patients' demographic data were compared with controls. Serum samples were taken for electrolytes, urea and creatinine, calcium, phosphate, total protein albumin and virology. Ultrasonography was also done on all the patients.

Results; 100 patients aged between 15 and 74yrs (mean±SD of 35.29±14.17) and 57 controls aged 15 to 75yrs (mean±SD of 39.9±13.58) were studied. There was no significant difference in the ages of the patients and controls (p=0.79). The cases comprised 68 males and 32 females. Mean±SD age of males was 41±13.27yrs and that of the females was 36.06±13.64yrs. Two (2%) of the study population had severe hyponatraemia with serum Na less than 120mmol/l, while 47 (47%) had mild to moderate hyponatraemia with serum Na between 120- 134mmol/l; in contrast to 49 (49%) who had normal serum Na between 135-145mm0l/l, and 2 (2%) who had hypernatraema with serum Na greater than 145mmol/l. There is no age or sex predilection in the distribution of hyponatraemia in the study group (p=0.854 and p=0.436, respectively). We conclude that there is no statistical difference in the serum Na concentration among patients with CKD regardless of the aetiology and degree of renal dysfunction (p=0.076 and p=0.722). Hyponatremia is common among ESRD patients undergoing haemodialysis and this problem should always be looked for because majority of patients with this condition are asymptomatic.