Evaluation of hyponatremia and predictors of hyponatremia in patients hospitalized with the COVID-19.

Background/Aims: The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection epidemic has been named Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) by the World Health Organization. Moderate and severe hyponatremia may develop in the SARS-CoV-2 infection. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the frequency of hyponatremia and predictors of hyponatremia in patients hospitalized due to COVID-19.
Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective study. Patients over the age of 18 who were admitted to our hospital between 01.08.2020-30.09.2020 with positive RNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test results that were followed up by hospitalization were included in the study. The patients’ demographic data, comorbidities, vital signs, physical examination findings, laboratory results, sodium levels and hospital outcomes were evaluated.
Results: The study included 760 patients with positive PCR test results. Of all the patients, 47.6% were female, and the median age was 63. The in-hospital mortality rate of the patients in our study was 11.7%. The median sodium value of the patients was 137 (134-140). Hyponatremia was present in 25.7% of the patients, and the majority of the patients had mild hyponatremia. We found that hyponatremia was observed more frequently in patients with advanced age, male gender, diabetes, and severe pneumonia (p=0.041, p=0.003, p <0.001, p = 0.002, respectively)
Conclusion: Hyponatremia is relatively common in patients admitted with COVID pneumonia, and it is associated with higher disease severity in our study. The incidence of hyponatremia increases in geriatric patients, male patients, patients with severe pneumonia, and diabetic patients.