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Epidemiology and Significance of Hyponatremia

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Hyponatremia

Abstract

Hyponatremia is a common clinical entity crossing all medical disciplines. This chapter summarizes its prevalence and clinical significance in various settings. We discuss the incidence in the general population, hospitalized patients, postoperative patients, and the elderly as well as the influence of gender. We then discuss the incidence and significance of hyponatremia in specific conditions including central nervous system disorders, heart failure, cirrhosis, certain infectious diseases, cancer, the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH), psychosis, endocrine disorders, endurance exercise, and beer potomania. Finally, we briefly discuss the occurrence with certain medications. This chapter serves as a general introduction to the magnitude and significance of the problem to be discussed in detail in subsequent chapters.

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Correspondence to Eric E. Simon M.D .

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Teran, F.J., Simon, E.E. (2013). Epidemiology and Significance of Hyponatremia. In: Simon, E. (eds) Hyponatremia. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6645-1_1

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