HYPONATREMIA IN HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS USING THIAZIDE DIURETICS

ABSTRACT
Objective: To determine the frequency of hyponatremia in the patients of essential hypertension using thiazide diuretics.
Type and place of study: This descriptive cross sectional study was performed in the medical unit of Hayatabad
Medical Complex, Peshawar.
Methodology: This study was conducted in the 6 months duration, from March 2016 to September 2016. Total of 171
patients were enrolled by using 10% proportion of severe hyponatremia10, 95% confidence level and 4.5% margin of
error under WHO software for sample size determination. More over consecutive (non-probability) sampling technique
was used for sample collection. Patients selected for the study were using hydrochlorthiazide diuretics for at least one
month. Single reading of serum electrolytes was obtained from the main laboratory of hospital. Patients with other
chronic diseases which might be a cause for hyponatremia, as per history, clinical examination and previous record
of the patient, were excluded from the study. Patients having sodium level of 129 Meq/l or less were labeled as having
hyponatremia.
Results: Out of 171 total patients, 60% were male while 40% were female. The mean age was 60 years with standard
deviation of ±5.71. This study shows 15% of hyponatremia associated with essential hypertension treated with thiazide
diuretics.
Conclusion: Hyponatremia is not uncommon in the patients with essential hypertension using hydrochlorthiazide diuretics.
Such patients may become more prone to hyponatremia if some other diseases associated with hyponatremia
occur, like interstitial nephritis, meningitis, intracranial tumors, subarachnoid hemorrhage or stroke.