The prevalence and mortality of hyponatremia is seriously underestimated in Chinese general medical patients: an observational retrospective study.

Background Hyponatremia (serum sodium concentration < 135 mmol/L) is the most common electrolyte abnormality and is a predictor of the mortality of hospitalized patients in Western countries. However, hyponatremia data are lacking in Asian countries. Here we evaluate the epidemiology and mortality of hyponatremia in general medical hospitalized patients in China.