Frequency of Hyponatremia in Patients with Liver Cirrhosis and Its Association with Hepatic Encephalopathy
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51985/Keywords:
Liver cirrhosis; hyponatremia; hepatic encephalopathyAbstract
Objective: This study aims to determine the frequency of hyponatremia and to investigate its association with hepatic encephalopathy among patients with liver cirrhosis.
Study design & Settings: Descriptive cross-sectional study conducted at the Department of Medicine, Gulab Devi Teaching Hospital, Lahore.
Methodology: A non-probability consecutive sampling technique was used to enroll 140 patients with liver cirrhosis. Patients with conditions that could affect electrolyte balance or mental status were excluded. Hyponatremia was defined as serum sodium <135 mEq/L and was further categorized into mild, moderate, and severe according to admission serum sodium levels. Hepatic encephalopathy was assessed clinically using the West Haven criteria.
Results: Out of 140 patients, 58 (41.4%) had hyponatremia, including 28 (20.0%) mild, 20 (14.3%) moderate, and 10 (7.1%) severe cases. Hepatic encephalopathy was present in 90 patients (64.3%). Hepatic encephalopathy was more frequent among patients with hyponatremia than among those with normal sodium levels (82.8% vs. 51.2%; p=0.001). Conclusion: Hyponatremia is common in patients with liver cirrhosis and has a significant association with hepatic encephalopathy. Serum sodium monitoring may help identify patients who are at increased risk of neurological complications.
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