Hypernatremia: Epidemiology and Predictive Role in Emerging and Established Acute Kidney Injury.

Hypernatremia (plasma sodium > 145 mmol/L) reflects impaired water balance, and affected patients can suffer from severe neurologic symptoms. Hyponatremia, on the other hand, is the most frequent electrolyte disorder in hospitals. It may be diagnosed in acute kidney injury (AKI), but hyponatremia prior to the diagnosis of AKI has also predictive or prognostic value in the short term.