Study on Serum Sodium and Potassium Imbalance in Patients of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease with Acute Exacerbation

Abstract

Background: Acute exacerbation of COPD is associated with morbidity, mortality, and decreased quality of life. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Due to a lack of awareness about the precipitating factors and predictors of prognosis, cases of acute exacerbation of COPD often suffer fatal outcomes. Serum sodium and potassium levels may become deranged in subjects with acute exacerbations of COPD, which should be routinely checked to avoid fatal outcomes. This study aimed to assess serum sodium and potassium levels in subjects with acute episodes of COPD. Methods: This study was conducted from July 2023 to December 2023 using a cross-sectional design in the Department of Medicine, the Department of Respiratory Medicine, and the CCU at Dhaka National Medical Institute Hospital (DNMIH). Patients attending the respective departments with a clinical and laboratory diagnosis of acute exacerbation of COPD were approached for enrollment in the study, and a total of 100 patients were enrolled according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. Informed written consent was taken from each patient before enrolment. Each patient was subjected to detailed history taking and thorough clinical evaluation. Relevant investigations were done, including serum electrolytes. Respiratory functions were assessed through spirometry. A semi-structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Collected data were checked for errors and then analyzed using the statistical software SPSS 23. Results: About 83% of the total patients with Acute Exacerbation (AE) of COPD were male, and the remaining 17.0% were female. The maximum number of males (31.3%) and females (52.9%) were in the age group 71-80 years. A majority of the male patients (26.5%) were unemployed/retired, whereas the majority of the women (41.2%) were homemakers. The low-income group (67.0%) comprises the largest percentage of the patients. The majority (45%) of the study population had a history of former smoking habits. Around 58% of the male patients had normal serum sodium, 40% had hyponatremia, and 2% had hypernatremia. Among the female patients, 71% had normal serum sodium and 29% had hyponatremia, whereas none had hypernatremia. Around 48% of the male patients had normal serum potassium, 46% had hypokalemia, and 6% had hyperkalemia. Among the female patients, 47% had normal serum potassium, 41% had hypokalemia, and 12% had hyperkalemia. Conclusion: Electrolyte imbalance was a commonly associated finding among patients of COPD with Acute Exacerbation, which should be corrected promptly to avoid fatal outcomes.

Bangladesh J Medicine 2026; 37(3): 202-207