Assessment ofSerum Electrolyte Disorder and Associated factors amongAdult Neurologic Patients Admitted to Jimma Medical Center, South West Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Electrolyte disorder is the most frequent systemic complication in patients with neurologic diseases. Disorders of sodium and potassium concentration are the commonest electrolyte abnormalities and may contribute to mortality unless corrected urgently.Among all neurologic diseases of adult, stroke ranks first. Objective: To assess the magnitude of serum electrolyte (sodium, potassium, calcium and chloride) disorders and associated factors among adult patients with neurologic diseases admitted to Jimma Medical Center. Methods: Institutional based cross sectional study was conducted among selected 119adult neurologic patients by using stratified sampling technique. Blood was drawn from neurologic patients, centrifuged and level of serum electrolyte (Na, K, Cl, and Ca)was determined. Data were feed into Epidata 4.4.2.win 64 and exported to SPSS version 20. Binary Logistic Regression (bivariate and multivariate analysis with backward LR)was used to identifythe associated factors to electrolyte disorders. Data were expressed in percentage, mean, ± SD and P-value ≤0.05 considered as a statistically significant. Data were presented with text, tables Results: From a total of 119 neurologic patients included in this study, about 77(64.7%) were males and majority of patients (20.2%) were between ages of 18-24 years. Chewing chat (48.7%) was the most common behavioral practice. The prevalence of at least one electrolyte disorder was 71.4%and 28.6% of patients had normal electrolyte level. The prevalence of hyponatremia, hypokalemia, hypochloremia ,hyperchloremia,hypocalcemia,hypernatremia and hyperkalemia was seen in 37%,35.3%, 21.8%, 19.3% , 16%,14.3% and 1.7%, of patients), respectively. Hypercalcemia was not found.Occupation, comatose state, taking intravenous fluids, taking thiazides, both antibiotics and analgesics, history of chronic diseases like hypert ension and diabetes were factors associated with serum electrolyte disorders. Conclusion and recommendation:Hyponatremia and hypokalemia were common electrolyte disorders.Therefore, early screening or measurement of serum electrolyte should be done for high risk groups.