Categories

Volume 4 Issue 4 (July - August, 2016)

Original Articles

EVALUATION OF SERUM ELECTROLYTE CONCENTRATION DISTURBANCES AMONG ASTHMATIC PATIENTS
Kashyap Goyal, G.C. Ahir, S.K. Bansal, Kiranjit

Introduction: Abnormal electrolyte concentrations in asthma patients can be attributed to low intake or secondary to asthma medications. Hypokalemia, hypomagnesaemia and hypocalcaemia are well known causes of cardiac arrhythmias. Thus the purpose of present study was to detect the frequency of electrolyte (Na+, K+, Ca++, Mg++ and P) disturbances in asthmatic patients (chronic stable and acute exacerbation) and their effect on lung function parameters. Material and Methods: The present prospective study was conducted over 100 subjects including 50 asthmatic patients and 50 healthy age and sex matched controls. Asthmatic patients within 14 to 60 years age group were enrolled to evaluate the electrolyte disturbances in asthma patients. Baseline values of pulmonary function tests were measured before including the patient into the study. Serum levels of electrolytes: sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium and phosphorus of both asthmatics and control group were observed. Results: Electrolyte disturbances were found in forty three patients out of fifty (86%).In 32% of patients, there was one electrolyte disturbance. 32% had two electrolyte disturbances; 30% had three electrolyte disturbances and 4% had four electrolyte disturbances. Hypomagnesemia (48%) and hypophosphatemia (48%) were found to be the two most common electrolyte disturbances in adult asthmatic patients.40% of patients had hypocalcemia with mean serum calcium levels of 8.8±0.64 mg/dl. Hypokalemia was observed in 14 out of 50 (28%) asthmatic patients with mean serum potassium levels of 3.93±0.69 meq/L with statistically significant results. Conclusion: Serum electrolytes should be checked during admission and atleast 2 hours of nebulisation. In patients with chronic asthma and exacerbation, care should be taken during acute management to avoid the adverse effects of bronchodilator therapy.
Keywords: Asthma, Electrolyte imbalance, Hypokalemia, Hypomagnesaemia, Hypocalcaemia

Corresponding Author:  Kashyap Goyal, PG Resident, Department of Chest & TB, GGS Medical College Faridkot, Punjab, India

This article may be cited as: Goyal K, Ahir GC, Bansal SK, Kiranjit. Evaluation of serum electrolyte concentration disturbances among asthmatic patients. J Adv Med Dent Scie Res 2016;4(4):56-61.

 
Abstract View | Download PDF | Current Issue