Serum electrolyte abnormalities in pediatric patients presenting to an emergency department with various diseases: Age-related differences
Background: This study evaluated the prevalence and frequency of serum electrolyte abnormalities (SEAs) in children presenting to a pediatric emergency department (PED) with various diseases. Methods: Pediatric patients (≤18 years) with blood electrolyte panels obtained in the PED of Lin-Kou Chang G...
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| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2022-11-01
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| Series: | Pediatrics and Neonatology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1875957222001450 |
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| Summary: | Background: This study evaluated the prevalence and frequency of serum electrolyte abnormalities (SEAs) in children presenting to a pediatric emergency department (PED) with various diseases. Methods: Pediatric patients (≤18 years) with blood electrolyte panels obtained in the PED of Lin-Kou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan, in the 5 years from January 1, 2016, to August 31, 2021, were enrolled in this retrospective observational study. Patients were divided into three age groups: Group A, < 4 years; Group B, 4–11 years; and Group C, 12–18 years. The associations between SEAs and clinical diseases in children and age-related differences were assessed. Results: This study included 182,058 pediatric patients visiting our PED over a 5-year period. A total of 250 (0.14%) patients with SEAs were included in the analysis. The study population consisted of 127 boys and 123 girls with a median (IQR) age of 9.0 (3.2–14.1) years. Hospital admission was required in 86.4% (n = 216) of the patients, and 32.4% (n = 81) of them were admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). The median (IQR) hospital stay and PICU stay was 6.5 (4.0–11.0) and 4.0 (3.0–8.0) days, respectively. The PICU stay was longer in Group A (p < 0.05) and shorter in group C (p < 0.05). Hyponatremia was the most common SEA in group A (46.3%, n = 31), while hypokalemia was common in groups B (54.2%, n = 52) and C (32.2%, n = 28). Gastrointestinal, renal, and endocrine diseases were common clinical conditions associated with SEAs in pediatric patients in our PED. Conclusion: The detection rate of SEAs in patients in the PED was 0.14%. Hyponatremia was a common SEA in pediatric patients aged <4 years, while the most common electrolyte disorder in those >4 years old was hypokalemia. In infants and young children, SEAs were associated with a longer PICU stay. |
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| ISSN: | 1875-9572 |