HYPONATREMIA IDENTIFICATION IN HOSPITALIZED ELDERLY IN USE OF OPIOIDS
Fernanda Alice Tanimoto, Pollyanna Evelyn Ferreira Freitas, Henrique Cerqueira Guimaraes, Josiane Moreira da Costa

Aim: to identify the occurrence of hyponatremia in hospitalized elderly people who used tramadol when compared to those who used codeine. Methods: We included in this study, patients over 65 years who were hospitalized from January to December 2013, which were prescribed opioids tramadol or codeine painkillers, and had serum sodium test before the use of the drug, and up to 24 hours after the treatment. Data collection occurred through consultation in electronic medical record, followed by computerized report generation with the information of interest: age, sex, reason for hospitalization, opioid in use, period of use, date of hyponatremia examination, and results of the examination. Patients were divided into two groups: those who used codeine, and those who made use of tramadol, being carried out the calculation of the relative risk of hyponatremia among groups. Results: 77 patients were enrolled in the study, and 52 used the drug codeine and tramadol 25 used. The average length of stay of these patients was 23.95 days. In assessing the relative risk (RR) of occurrence of hyponatremia among groups, considering a 95% confidence interval, identified a RR de 1.1886(IC: 0.5751-2.4565; P: 0,6409). Conclusion: The study showed that both tramadol as codeine may predispose the appearance of hyponatremia in hospitalized elderly patients, and hand statistically significant differences were identified between the two groups.

It is hoped that this study will contribute to the awareness of health professionals about the risk of hyponatremia by the use of opioids in elderly hospitalized.

Descriptors: eldery, hyponatremia, tramadol, codein.