Prevalence of Hyponatraemia and Its Association With Antihypertensive Therapy and Quality of Life in Elderly Patients: A Prospective Observational Study

Abstract

Hyponatraemia is a common electrolyte disturbance among elderly patients receiving antihypertensive medications. This study evaluated the prevalence of hyponatraemia, its association with antihypertensive medications and the association between hyponatraemia and quality of life (QoL) in a rural tertiary care setting. A total of 97 patients aged ≥60 years were included. Hyponatraemia was observed in 70.1% of patients, indicating a high burden in this population. Clinically, headache (47.1%) and confusion (38.2%) were the most frequently reported manifestations, while 25.0% of patients were asymptomatic. Univariate logistic regression showed no statistically significant association between antihypertensive medication classes and hyponatraemia, including diuretics (OR = 1.050, 95% CI: 0.440–2.507; p = 0.912), calcium channel blockers (OR = 0.949, 95% CI: 0.393–2.292; p = 0.908), angiotensin receptor blockers (OR = 1.627, 95% CI: 0.678–3.905; p = 0.276) and beta-blockers (OR = 0.525, 95% CI: 0.195–1.417; p = 0.203). No statistically significant differences in QoL scores were observed between patients with and without hyponatraemia ( p > 0.05). Overall, the study demonstrates a high prevalence of hyponatraemia. These findings highlight the importance of routine electrolyte monitoring and careful treatment of elderly patients to reduce potential complications.