Hyponatraemia in primary care

What you need to knowMild hyponatraemia is associated with increased risk of falls and osteoporosisAssessing volume status helps to guide differential diagnosis and options for managementMedications such as diuretics, antidepressants, antipsychotics, and anti-epileptics are common causes of hyponatraemiaOlder people are particularly at risk of developing and suffering consequences of hyponatraemiaCheck thyroid function and 9 am cortisol in all patients with hypovolaemic and euvolaemic hyponatraemiaHyponatraemia is the most frequently observed electrolyte abnormality.1 Mild hyponatraemia is associated with cognitive deficits and falls, but in hospitalised patients it is associated with increased mortality.2 In primary care, patients are often found to have hyponatraemia during chronic disease monitoring. This prompts a focused re-evaluation to consider underlying causes such as medication, cancer, or adrenal insufficiency.23 In this article we provide a framework to assess patients with hyponatraemia in primary care.