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Corresponding Author

Manal Mohammed Reda Algharbawy, M.D.

Subject Area

Chest medicine

Article Type

Original Study

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Hyponatremia is one of the commonest water–electrolyte imbalances in the body. It can occur in coincidence with many diseases and its presence can affect the disease outcome.

OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY: to evaluate the relation between serum sodium level and both COVID disease severity and mortality.

METHODS: Study included 164 patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19. Serum sodium was measured on admission. 65 patients had serum sodium more than 135 mmol/l (either normal serum sodium or mild hypernatremia) while the remaining 99 had hyponatremia. Patients were treated and followed till discharge or death. Study included 3 categories of disease severity: moderate, severe and critical. Disease outcomes were either complete recovery, discharge on home oxygen or death. We studied the relation between serum sodium on one side and disease severity; complications; need for ICU admission and mortality on the other side.

RESULTS: A highly significant difference (p≤0.001) was found between mean serum sodium in the 3 severity groups (moderate, severe and critical groups) with lower levels in the severe and lowest in the critical groups. Sodium level below 134.5 could predict critical disease with 93% sensitivity and 86.1% specificity. Mean serum sodium was significantly lower in cases discharged on home oxygen compared to those cured completely and was lowest in cases died of COVID (p≤0.001). Sodium level below 133.5 could predict COVID disease mortality with 80.5% sensitivity and 63% specificity.

CONCLUSION: Hyponatremia at the time of hospital admission was associated with more severe disease and higher mortality risk in COVID-19 patients.

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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