Work

The Association of Outdoor Temperature with Severe Hyponatremia

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Hyponatremia is a common condition with unspecific symptoms and a complicated etiology. The impact of outdoor temperature on hyponatremia is not well-studied and varies depending on the climate and location. This study aimed to investigate the association between outdoor temperature and the prevalence of severe hyponatremia. METHODS: This retrospective register-based cohort study based on the Stockholm Sodium Cohort investigated the association between ambient temperatures and severe hyponatremia (<125 mmol/L) in adults. Prevalence rates of severe hyponatremia were calculated as the number of days of severe hyponatremia divided by person-days at risk for the same temperature, using mean daily temperatures at the area of residence of each study participant to calculate exposure time. A prediction model incorporating changes in demographics and climate was used to estimate the burden of severe hyponatremia in Stockholm by 2050. RESULTS: We identified 51,143 episodes of severe hyponatremia in 21,924 adults. A near linear modest increase in prevalence with rising temperatures was observed up to 20°C, followed by rapidly increasing rates at higher temperatures. The prevalence was higher with older age, reaching >100 days of hyponatremia per million person-days among +80-years-olds at temperatures over 22°C. Women experienced twice the rate observed in men. Temperature rises of 1°C or 2°C by the year 2050 are expected to be associated with higher prevalence rates by 66% and 73%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: There was a strong association between high temperatures and severe hyponatremia. The higher prevalence of severe hyponatremia was most pronounced among elderly.

Source: Journal of the American Society of Nephrology

DOI: 10.1681/asn.0000000519

Authors: Issa Issa, Jakob Skov, Henrik Falhammar, Jonatan D. Lindh, Buster Mannheimer

Institutions: Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm South General Hospital, Karlstad Central Hospital, Karolinska University Hospital

Language: English

Topic: Electrolyte and hormonal disorders

Subfield: Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Climate action

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,853