Water, Electrolyte, and Acid-Base Disorders in the Elderly

In healthy old and very old individuals, serum electrolyte levels are in the normal range, but they can be easily altered compared to the young individuals. This phenomenon can be attributed to a reduced homeostatic capability in the elderly, which is tightly related to the significant and prevalent structural and functional changes suffered by the aged kidney. Water, sodium, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, and acid-base disorders have particular characteristics in the elderly, mainly in the frail ones (geriatric syndromes) since they are usually exposed to diseases, and pharmacological variables in a setting of an undermined homeostatic capability.