Searching for balance in old age: About water and salt

摘要

Hyponatraemia (defined as a serum sodium level < 135 mml/l) is the most frequent serum electrolyte disorder in clinical practice. Older adults are particularly prone to develop hyponatraemia, due to comorbidities and consequent frequent use of medication and to age-related changes in water and electrolyte balance. Moreover, serum sodium concentrations can slightly decrease with age; a slight reduction in serum sodium concentration equal to 1 mmol/l /decade has been documented.