Serum electrolyte abnormalities among hypertensive patients aged 30 years and above attending Bombo Military Hospital in Luweero District. A cross-sectional study.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51168/k11rx269Keywords:
Serum sodium abnormalities, Calcium levels, Potassium levels, Bombo Military Hospital, Hypertensive patientsAbstract
Background Hypertension is one of the leading causes of illness and death worldwide. The study aims to determine the prevalence of serum sodium, potassium, and calcium abnormalities among hypertensive patients aged 30 years and above attending Bombo MilitaryHospital in Luweero District. MethodologyThe study adopted a retrospective cross-sectional study design. Extracted data were cross-checked for completeness and accuracy before being entered into Microsoft Excel, where cleaning was performed by identifying and correcting inconsistencies and missing values. The cleaned data were exported to Stata version 14, where descriptive statistics were used to generate frequencies and percentages for demographic characteristics and to determine the prevalence of serum sodium, potassium, and calcium abnormalities based on standard reference ranges.
Results
The largest proportion of patients were aged 60 years and above, 46(30.7%). The majority, 110(73%), had normal serum sodium levels 40(27%) had sodium abnormalities. Among those with abnormalities, 30(20.0%) had low serum sodium levels; 10(7%) had elevated serum sodium levels. 86(57%) had normal serum potassium levels, 64(43%) had potassium abnormalities. Among those with abnormalities, 50(33%) had low potassium levels, 14(10%) had high potassium levels (hyperkalemia). The majority had normal serum calcium levels 109(73%), 41(27%) had calcium abnormalities. Among those with abnormalities, 33(22.0%) had low calcium levels (hypocalcemia), while 8(5%) had high calcium levels.
ConclusionSerum sodium abnormalities existed among hypertensive patients, with hyponatremia being the most common sodium abnormality identified. Serum potassium abnormalities were the most prevalent electrolyte abnormalities among hypertensive patients, with hypokalemia being the most commonly identified potassium abnormality. Serum calcium abnormalities were also present among hypertensive patients, with hypocalcemia being more common than hypercalcemia.
RecommendationsRoutine screening for serum calcium levels should be incorporated into the management of hypertensive patients, and nutritional counseling should be provided to address possible deficiencies contributing to hypocalcemia.
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