HYPONATREMIA;

PREVALENCE OF HYPONATREMIA IN PATIENTS PRESENTING WITH HEPATIC ENCEPHALOPATHY.

Abstract

Objectives: To find out the frequency of hyponatremia in cases of hepatic
encephalopathy. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Department of Medicine DG
Khan Hospital, DG Khan. Period: July 2016 to December 2016. Material and Methods: Total
80 patients with hepatic encephalopathy either male or female were selected for this study.
Hyponatremia was assessed in these selected patients. Results: Mean age of the patients
was 38.34 ± 11.140 years. Hyponatremia was found in 31 (39%) patients. Hyponatremia was
noted in 13 (41.94%) patients of age group 18-36 years and 18 (36.73%) patients of age group
37-55 years. Statistically insignificant association of hyponatremia with age was seen with p
value 0.6467. Hyponatremia was found in 21 (40.38%) male patients and 10 (35.71%) female
patients. But the difference of frequency of hyponatremia between male and female patients was
statistically insignificant with p value 0.8109. Conclusion: Results of this study showed a higher
percentage of hyponatremia in patients with HE. Male were more victim of HE as compared to
female but insignificant association of hyponatremia with gender is noted. Findings of present
study showed that there is insignificant association of hyponatremia with grade of HE, socioeconomic
status, area of residence and age.