Hyponatremia and hypokalemia as risk factors for falls

Abstract

The results indicated that the presence of hyponatremia or hypokalemia increases the risk of falls.

Hyponatremia Is Associated With Increased Osteoporosis and Bone Fractures in a Large US Health System Population

“…That is, the Rotterdam study evaluated a prior hyponatremia parameter, which is associated with only a modest increased fracture risk, whereas Gankam et al measured a recent hyponatremia parameter, which carries a higher risk. Consistent with Kinsella et al (22) suggesting that hyponatremia is associated with fracture independent of osteoporosis, a study showing gait instability with hyponatremia (15), and recent studies showing hyponatremia as an independent predictor of falls in a geriatric population (16) and in hospitalized patients (17), our findings demonstrate that recent hyponatremia is an even greater risk factor for fragility fracture than prior hyponatremia alone. Thus, the association between hyponatremia and fragility fracture may not be merely related to chronic bone loss but also due to a more acute process, such as hyponatremiainduced gait instability leading to increased falls.…”

“…Furthermore, clinical studies indicate that acute hyponatremia can induce a broad spectrum of neurological manifestations, ranging from mild nonspecific symptoms to more significant disorders. The neurological dysfunctions associated with hyponatremia have been shown to include gait instability (15) and increased falls (16,17), both of which could compound patient fracture risk.…”

Hyponatremia, falls and bone fractures: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

“…Of 216 retrieved articles, 201 articles were excluded for different reasons. The flow of the meta‐analysis is summarized in Figure , and the characteristics of the studies included in the meta‐analysis are summarized in Table and . Overall 23 full‐text articles were considered potentially eligible for the meta‐analysis.…”

“…The flow of the meta-analysis is summarized in Figure 1, and the characteristics of the studies included in the meta-analysis are summarized in Table 1 and 3. 5,7,8,[16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27] Overall 23 full-text articles were considered potentially eligible for the meta-analysis.…”

Pressure ulcers in palliative ward patients: hyponatremia and low blood pressure as indicators of risk

“…In addition, a decrease of serum sodium from 139 to 132 mmol/L was shown to correlate with an increased risk of death 29. Hyponatremia was also found to increase the risk of falls30 and fractures 8. Our observations suggest that decreased serum sodium is a factor in increased pressure ulcer development risk.…”